Carpets & Flooring
CRI Articles
IEHA Articles
IICRC Articles
Features
Whether you have carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl or tile, proper care of your floors will extend their lifetime and keep them looking beautiful. Here are some tips from the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) on how to properly care for and maintain one of the hardest working surfaces in your house.
1. Daily sweeping, dust-mopping or vacuuming is the best way to maintain the beauty and condition of your floors, no matter what the material. Dirt and debris will scratch solid-surface flooring and abrade carpet fibers, causing floors to show wear more quickly.
2. Use entry mats both outside and inside to catch dirt and debris before it can get on to your floors.
3. Wipe up spills and treat stains as quickly as possible. For specific recommendations on getting stains out of carpet, see: Carpet Spills and Spots: Get Them Out!.
See also the The Clean Trust Stain Removal Wizard.
4. To clean floors properly, it is essential that you know your flooring material. Using the wrong cleaning product can produce undesirable results and could even permanently damage your flooring. HousekeepingChannel.com has helpful, detailed articles on how to care for any type of floor.
How to clean carpet: Go for the Deep Carpet Dirt
How to clean hardwood floors: Keep that Warm Glow on Your Hardwood Floor
How to clean stone, tile and grout: Expert Stone, Tile and Grout Care
How to clean laminate floors: Corian, Earthstone, Pergo...Oh My!
How to clean vinyl or no-wax floors: Keep No-Wax Floors Looking New
5. Use the right tools for the job. Caring for your floors is easier than ever before with a host of modern floor care equipment, such as steam cleaners, high-performance vacuum cleaners, and a variety of brooms, mops and sweepers available. For wood and laminate floors, a microfiber mop is an ideal choice, since less water is needed to get a good cleaning and the flat head of the mop will fit into tight spaces. For more product reviews, search HousekeepingChannel.com or click “Reviews” and “Tools”.
