Hal Major © 2009
BobVila.com
Many of today�s floor covering are low maintenance. However, none of them are �no� maintenance. A little preventive maintenance can keep your floor looking new for years.
High Traffic Areas
The use of floor mats and area rugs in high traffic areas will reduce the wear on your flooring. Moreover, they reduce the frequency of cleaning and maintaining the floor. It is easier to launder a few rugs than it is to vacuum, dust and mop the floor. Not to mention having to repair or replace worn flooring
Sealants and Coatings
If your floor requires sealing, re-sealing and/or coating make sure you set a maintenance schedule to accomplish it. Stone, tile and hardwood floors usually require a periodic sealing to help them resist spills, stains and scratches. Check the manufacturer�s website for information or call the store where you purchased the flooring. They should be able to tell you the type or brand of sealant or coating to use.
Vinyl and linoleum floors generally come with a protective coating. However, it will dull and wear away do to use. Use a coating especially designed for vinyl and linoleum to restore their shine. Regular floor wax may not be hard enough and could result in more maintenance than if had not applied anything to it.
Spills and Pet Accidents
Wipe up any spills and pet accidents as soon as they happen or immediately upon discovery. The longer they remain on the flooring the greater the chance for permanent damage. Pet urine is especially acidic and can damage almost any floor if allowed to stand and air dry. You may want to consider limiting access to certain areas or rooms by your pet.
Regular Cleaning
The one thing you can do to prolong the life and beauty of your floors is to clean them on a regular basis. Vacuuming your carpet at least once a week to remove the dirt particles that cut away at and abrade the fibers is the single most important task to long lasting carpet.
Laminate, hardwood, tile, stone, vinyl and other hard surface flooring should be dusted on a weekly basis and cleaned with the recommended cleaner and method once a month. Be careful of the type cleaner you use on hardwoods and laminates. They can be stained or discolored if too harsh a cleaner is applied. With a small amount of regular cleaning your floors will last and look new for a long time to come.
