Types of Floor Coverings and Basic Floor Care Tips

There are so many different types of hard floornon-porous surface layer and are more stain and
coverings these days, it's hard to keep up withmoisture resistant, whereas unglazed ceramic tile is
learning how to care for each of the different kinds.more slip resistant. Concrete flooring is now more
And if you're a cleaning contractor, you don't want tofashionable with the use of color additives and
make a costly mistake by using something on a floortexture. Concrete floors can be sealed and finished
that could be harmful or damage the floor.like a VCT tile floor, and will require similar daily
Listed below are some of the common floormaintenance using a neutral pH floor cleaner. Daily
coverings and basic floor care tips:maintenance of ceramic tile floors include sweeping
1. Resilient Floors, especially VCT (vinyl compositionand mopping with a neutral pH cleaner. Do not use
tile) flooring is used commercially on high traffic floorsacid or alkaline cleaners for daily maintenance as it
such as retail or grocery stores. VCT tile is durablecan damage the tile and grout over time. Grout may
and holds up to heavy traffic. However there is a lotneed periodic cleaning with the use of a slow speed
of maintenance involved in keeping these floorsfloor machine and a nylo grit brush, which can get
looking good. They should have a sealer or finishinto the grout lines where soil accumulates.
applied to them, which gives the floor a high-gloss4. Wood Floors are being widely used in residential
look. The floor also needs to be swept and moppedhomes. To keep the floor looking good, protection
with a neutral pH cleaner on a regular maintenancefrom abuse, stains, soil and moisture is very
schedule to keep the floor looking shiny and clean.important. Basic maintenance of wood floors is similar
The floors may also need interim maintenance withto other floors, however wood is very sensitive to
slow speed or high speed floor machines andwater, and scratches much more easily than other
occasional stripping and re-coating of floor finish.types of flooring. Extreme care must be used, so
2. Stone products include marble, granite, andavoid dragging anything across a wood floor, and
limestone. There has been a dramatic increase in thenever use excessive water when cleaning. It's best
use of stone flooring in the past 10 years, evento use a well wrung out mop or microfiber flat mop,
though it is some of the most costly flooringwhich uses less water than conventional mops. Use a
available. You must be very careful when caring forcommercial wood cleaner, but avoid using oil-based
stone floors because you could easily damage thesoaps or furniture polish on wood floors, as they can
surface permanently if using the wrong chemicals.make the floor slippery and leave a residue.
Use of entry mats and daily sweeping and mopping is5. Laminate Floors are also being widely used in
key to keeping stone flooring looking like good. Mopresidential homes. Laminate floors are made of a
the floor with a neutral pH floor cleaner or a stonecombination of wood and cellulose products (mostly
soap, and never flood mop stone flooring. Never usewood). Melamine (clear resin) is applied to the surface
alkaline or acid cleaners for daily maintenance, as thisto make a strong outer layer. Manufacturers say that
can damage the floor over time.little or no maintenance is needed on laminate floors.
3. Masonry products include ceramic tile, clay tile, andThey recommend regular sweeping and damp
concrete. Ceramic and clay tiles come in a variety ofmopping using a laminate floor cleaner. As with wood
styles and textures, so this may determine the typefloors, laminate floors are sensitive to moisture, so
of maintenance needed. Ceramic tile will either benever use excessive water when cleaning.
glazed or unglazed. Glazed tile are shiny and have a