Cleaning Your Kitchen Floor 101

Kitchen floors are typically covered by one of four treatments: wood, vinyl, stone tile, or ceramic tile. Each of these flooring choices has a specific way in which it is supposed to be cleaned. Along with the cleaning methods, there are also inherent problems that go along with each flooring choice. Knowing how to properly care for your floor and take care of it’s inherent problems is something everyone homeowner should possess.

Wood Flooring
Wood is fairly easy to clean. However, you must remember to always use water sparingly. We all know what water does to a nice coffee table. Think about what it would do to your beautiful kitchen floor. To clean a wood floor, simply use a vacuum or a dry mop. Removing tougher dirt and stains from urethane wood is also quite simple. Mix 2.5 gallons of water with 1 cup of white vinegar. Simply scrub the effected area. If the stain is extremely bad, the floors will need to be sanded and refinished.

Vinyl Flooring
Typically vinyl flooring is fairly stain resistant. If there is a spill, simply wet a mop and spot clean with water. Vinyl flooring typically needs to be waxed to protect the finish. This should be done every year. The main problem with vinyl flooring is the tendency to curl. Should this happen, it is fairly easy to replace vinyl tiles, but if you have vinyl sheeting, the entire area will need to be replaced.

Stone Tile
Stone tile is absolutely breathtaking. It is also fairly easy to maintain. Simply use a damp mop and apply any general cleanser. Stains can be removed from stone tile by mixing water will trisodium phosphate. This is the chemical used to clean walls before you paint.

Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile has become very popular on floors. It can also be cleaned with a general cleanser on a damp mop. The main problem with ceramic tile floors, however, is the grout in between the tiles. This can become discolored and/or moldy. To make sure the grout looks it’s best, use a steel wool pad and dip it in a cup of white vinegar mixed with 2.5 gallons of water. Simply scrub the grout and it will look as good as new.

Choosing the right flooring for your house is the first step. Knowing how to properly maintain that flooring so that it lasts a lifetime is the second, and main step. If you don’t know how to maintain your flooring, your hard earned dollar will be thrown out the window.