Tips for floor cleaning
Use our guides featuring practical tips to help get your floors shining again.
Your floors are one of the most visible parts of your home, and they can make a big difference in how your space looks and feels. With so many types of floors and so much dirt and dust making its way in from outside, how do you know what products and methods to use?
On this page you will find guides that feature practical floor cleaning tips and tricks for various types of floor surface, including tile, wood, and laminate, along with the recommended Scotch-Brite™ products to help make cleaning them easy.
Tile, laminate and wood floors cleaning guides
Cleaning your floors is important for a healthy and happy home, but it can be hard to keep up when you have different types of flooring that need different kinds of care. With our floor cleaning tips, you’ll see that your weekly clean doesn’t have to be a hassle. Whether you have mostly carpet, hardwood, stone, or tile in your home, or a combination of them, we’ll show you how to clean them properly.
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How to clean tile floorsThe first step when cleaning tile floors is to sweep any dust, dirt, crumbs, or hair that may be on the surface away with a broom or a vacuum cleaner. Next, fill a bucket with warm water and add a small amount of a mild detergent or a cleaner that’s suitable for cleaning tile floors. Follow the instructions on the label to measure the right amount. Then, dip a mop into the bucket and squeeze out the excess water so that the mop is damp but not dripping.
Mop the floor in sections, starting from the furthest corner and working your way towards the door. If the mop gets dirty or the water gets cloudy, rinse the mop and change the water. After mopping the entire floor, rinse it with clean water to remove any soap residue that may dull the tiles or attract more dirt. Finally, let the floor air dry or use a towel to dry it. This will prevent water stains and protect against moisture damage.
Recommended products:
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How to clean wood floorsWhen cleaning wooden floors, start by sweeping it with a soft bristle broom or a vacuum cleaner with a soft attachment to remove any debris that may scratch the surface.
Next, prepare a small amount of hardwood floor cleaner and water. Follow the instructions on the label to measure the right amount and avoid using too much water as it can warp, crack, or stain the wood. The mop should be slightly damp but not wet.
Mop the floor in sections, following the direction of the wood grain, and after cleaning the wooden floor, dry it completely. This will prevent water marks and protect the wood from moisture damage. It’s also a good idea to use furniture pads or rugs to protect the floors from scratches and wear.
Recommended products:
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How to clean laminate floorsTo clean a laminate floor, start by sweeping it with a soft-bristled broom or a vacuum cleaner with a hard floor attachment to get rid of any dust, dirt, crumbs, or hair that may be on the surface. Next, use a damp mop or microfibre cloth to wipe the floor with water or a mild detergent. Don’t over-wet the floor, as excess water can seep into the seams and damage the laminate.
For stains or spills that are hard to remove, use a specialised laminate floor cleaner that’s designed to remove dirt and grease without harming the finish. Spray the cleaner on a clean, damp mop and wipe the floor in sections, starting from the furthest corner and working your way towards the door. After cleaning the entire floor, dry it with a soft cloth or a towel.
Recommended products:
Scotch-Briteᵀᴹ Single Spin Mop
Say goodbye to mopping frustrations with the Scotch-Brite™ Single Bucket Spin Mop. It combines rinsing and drying in a single bucket for simple and convenient floor cleaning.
Floor cleaning tips to help you keep them spotless
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A clean floor starts with prevention
A clean floor starts with prevention. The best way to keep your floor from getting dirty is to avoid bringing in dust, mud, and other debris from outside. You can do this by using doormats and taking off shoes at entrances.
Keep your floors as clear as possible from everyday items to avoid dust and dirt building up around them, and organise your furniture in a way that allows enough space for access. This will make floor mopping or hoovering around them much easier and less likely to be neglected.
You can also protect your floor from scratches and stains by using felt pads under furniture legs, drip trays under plant pots, and avoiding wax polish or soap-based detergents. By following these simple steps, you can reduce the need for frequent and intensive cleaning of your floor.
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Dry floor cleaning
Dry floor cleaning is a quick and easy way to keep your floors looking shiny and dust-free. It includes any method of maintaining floors that doesn’t use water or liquid cleaners. It means removing dust, dirt, and other debris from the floor surface using a vacuum or broom.
As well as sweeping and vacuuming, it also includes dry floor mopping with microfibre dry cloths and refills, which can be one of the most fast and effective ways to clean hardwood floors. These clever materials are designed to attract and hold on to small particles, ensuring all the dust and dirt is picked up and not left behind.
Dry cleaning allows you to clean floors regularly without introducing excess moisture, which can warp or damage some types of wood flooring. It also helps prevent scratches and stains to the floor finish and saves time and cleaning resources by reducing the need for wet mopping, rinsing, and drying. Dry floor cleaning is suitable for vinyl, laminate, wood, and tile floors.
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Wet floor cleaning
Nothing beats the shine of a freshly mopped floor. If you have a spill or a stain, often the only way to deal with it is with an effective wet cleaning solution. Wet floor cleaning is a method of maintaining hard floors using water, liquid chemicals, or a combination of the two. Unlike with dry cleaning, there are a huge range of options to choose from with various factors to consider.
First you will want to consider the tool you want to use – whether a traditional mop with thick bundles of yarn, a steam mop, which are great for removing germs and bacteria, a spin mop, which makes floor cleaning fast and easy, or a squeegee mop, which is a flat tool with a rubber blade that makes it easy to remove excess water.
Now you need to choose a chemical cleaner if you want to use more than just water. Most importantly if you have young children or pets is to check that the chemicals you are going to use are safe for them. Next you will need to consider which type of flooring you are cleaning and then choose a cleaning solution based on this.
Wet floor cleaning can help restore the shine and appearance of floor finishes, and help them last much longer. It can also sanitise the floor surface to kill germs using a specific type of product. It’s suitable for tile, stone, vinyl, and laminate floors.
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Make floor cleaning a regular habit
The only way to really keep on top of your floors is to make cleaning them a regular habit. This is important not only for hygiene and health reasons, but also to keep your home looking nice and welcoming to visitors.
Floor cleaning can also extend the life and beauty of your floor finish, whether it is wood, tile, vinyl, or carpet. To make floor cleaning a regular habit, you can follow some simple tips. Use Scotch-Brite™ tools that are designed for your floor type, and schedule a specific time each day or week to do it.
Focus more regular attention on busy areas such as kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, and areas where pets eat and drink. Use mats and rugs to protect high-traffic areas such as around doors, and spot clean spills and stains as soon as possible. Make cleaning your floors a more enjoyable activity by playing your favourite music.
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Search our full floor cleaning range and find retailers with Scotch-Brite™ products in your country
The Scotch-Brite™ range includes a wide variety of cleaning products for every part of the home, and are the perfect tools to make the most of our floor cleaning tips. Our product ranges include options for every type of floor surface, as well as tools for cleaning other areas such as the bathroom and kitchen.
