How to Clean Your Floors Without Stripping Them

By Maid Brigade of Northern Connecticut

Everybody wants to keep their floors clean and sparkling, and no matter what kind of floor you have, there are proper ways to do this.

If you have wood floors, you should be sure to dust often to keep the dust and dirt off the floors. This will prevent scratching and essentially extend the beauty and life of your floor.

Also wipe up all spills immediately to avoid permanent stains.

Periodically, you should also use a cleaner on them, but be careful, there is a right and a wrong way to do this. Too much liquid can damage floors, while the wrong formula may not work. Look for pH-neutral, nontoxic, and biodegradable formulas to clean effectively and keep your home and environment safe.

Vinegar, for example, can eat away at finish, even when diluted with water. Use a washable microfiber pad, which will remove bacteria and keep waste out of landfills. You also want to avoid soap-based cleaners, wax, or steam cleaners on your hardwood floor. Soap or wax will leave a residue and team cleaners put heat and excessive water on your floor, which can lead to cupping and long-term damage.

You’ll also want to make sure that you use the proper tools to clean your floor. A mop, paired with a machine-washable, microfiber pad for dusting and cleaning, are good to use. Avoid string mops that put excessive amounts of water on the floor, which can be damaging, and push dirt around, instead of picking up and removing dirt.

Every couple of months, use water-based polishes to restore luster and shine. These polishes won’t leave a residue or emit harmful toxins, plus they’ll prevent overcleaning and stripping of your floor. Durable, urethane-based polishes have fast dry times, no waxy buildup, and a protective wear layer to fill in microscratches and even out the appearance of the floor.

If you have tile floors, you should also keep them clean by regularly sweeping or vacuuming. Dirt can scratch tile surfaces, so it’s important to keep the floors clean.
You should also mop once a week. For most floors, a solution of 1/4 cup of Castile soap and two gallons warm water will work. For marble floors, which can dull with the regular use of detergent, try a very diluted, mild solution of dishwashing soap and water.

Another great cleaning solution, especially for greasy floors, is a mix of distilled white vinegar and warm water. Don’t use this solution on marble floors, however, since the vinegar will erode them.

To make the grout look shiny and new, after mopping, make a paste of baking soda and water. Rub the paste into the grout using an old toothbrush and rinse off. If the stains are really bad, you can apply plain baking soda, add a bit of distilled white vinegar, and let the solution sit for an hour before you begin scrubbing.

Need a little help? Give Maid Brigade of Northern Connecticut a call at 860-645-6243 and see what we can do for you.