The importance of cleaning your floor

As all things in your home, floors need regular cleaning to make them stand out

Hard Surface and Hardwood

Having a hard surface in the space means easier cleaning for most owners, but to some it may also translate for the need to clean more often (because dust and dirt are more readily seen on hard surface). Hard surface flooring can serve those with significant sensitivity to allergens because the dust has no place to hide, but again, this will likely require greater frequency in cleaning. So, what's the best product to use? You may be thinking it matters between having a real hardwood floor or an LVP floor, but actually, the industry recommends the same type of product: a hardwood-approved spray with dry microfiber mop, used together. Bona and Pallman (big names in the hardwood world) both have a cleaning kit which will check the boxes, whether you have solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, Luxury Vinyl, or Laminate. If you have more specific questions about instructions for use or about these products, please reference their websites directly.

Bona - Hardwood cleaning kit

Pallman - Hardwood cleaning kit

It should also be noted, for basically all types of residential flooring present day, the concept of using a "wet mop" with a significant amount of water and cleaner, to clean any floor is not recommended. (Only in some commercial and industrial applications, should the wet mop be used, and those who clean commercial businesses or large buildings will know what to use and when). So, for the average homeowner or small business owner, do not use a wet mop and water. Water can easily damage a real hardwood floor, and may likely damage an LVP or Laminate floor, depending on the product, and it will do so, given enough surface time.

Still have questions about your specific floor for cleaning recommendations? Hardwood floors generally do not have a website with cleaning recommendations, but they might, if it's a prefinished hardwood. If you have a prefinished hardwood, check their website. Otherwise, the Bona or Pallman should check the boxes for you. But if you have an LVP or Laminate or Cork floor, check the website product page of the manufacturer for recommendations. They may have a different recommendation based on their product.

Carpet and Rugs

Most carpet manufacturers will recommend having your carpet professionally steam cleaned one time per year, and many will require this to maintain the warranty. Because carpet also has space between fibers, it has room for dust and dirt to hide, therefore, while it may not be seen as much as on hard surfaces, carpet really needs to be vacuumed as often as you would clean a hard surface floor. How often is recommended for vacuuming? Some people vacuum daily, others wait weeks or longer, but a prudent step would be to vacuum once a week or so. Even if you do not wear shoes in the space, dust is a continuous inevitability, and factors into why carpets need regular maintenance (vacuuming and spot cleaning) just like many other things in the home, in addition to the annual professional steam cleaning.

But why the word professional? Some homeowners will opt to clean their carpets themselves, but when it comes to a proper steam cleaning, it is recommended to go with the professional. Why? The trusted and reliable professional steam cleaners today use much less water in their process, and truly, the less water the better, because as hardwood and water do not mix, you really would not want much water on your carpet for very long to keep a good carpet. So, finding a trusted professional today is well worth their wisdom and experience in cleaning your carpet. Plus, they have the experience to know how best to clean certain high traffic or pet areas.

The payoff

Cleaning your hard surface floors with a trusted spray and dry microfiber mop, or having your carpets professionally steam cleaned, not only makes them look better, but truly, they are CLEANER and that makes for a better environment in your home or work. This means cleaner for your family, pets, feet, pets, lungs, eyes, skin, and also helps extend the longevity of your investment in your floors. This is a really good payoff.