8 Helpful Hacks to Maintain Your Home's New Floors

If you've just installed new floors, a big congratulations to you! Floors are made to be stepped on, walked on, and used. Still, no one can blame you if you desire to keep your newest investment looking new for as long as possible. Fortunately, ensuring your new floors stay sparkling fresh is easier than you think, with proper habits. Check out these 10 hacks to keep your floors looking pretty in the forthcoming years.

1. Use Mats in Entryways

If you're serious about keeping your new floors clean, make it a point to put floor mats in entryways. Without a mat, everyone walking in and out of your home will bring in dirt and debris from outside. This yucky gunk and elements can be harsh on all types of flooring, from vinyl planks to carpets. Placing a mat reminds everyone to wipe off their shoes before entering the house. Better yet, have everyone remove their shoes and provide indoor slippers for your home. Some shoes, like stilettos and cleats, can scratch and dent certain kinds of flooring, like laminates.

2. Wipe way Spills ASAP

Deal with spills immediately to prevent accidents like slipping on slick, wet floors. More importantly, immediately dealing with spills prevents the following:

• Warp
• Bubble 
• Peel
• Stain
• Water damage

Spills are easy to deal with for some flooring materials like vinyl, tiles, or hybrids. You mop them off, and you're good to go. However, spills on carpet floors can be tricky because you must absorb as much of the spill on a clean cloth. You can also use a carpet cleaner to deal with stubborn stains. Be sure not to rub the area to avoid damaging or tearing the carpet fibres.

3. Regularly Dust the Floor

Have routine floor hygiene with schedules for sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping. It is essential to eliminate dirt and debris like food particles or hair. All of these elements could scuff, stain, or scratch the floor. If you're using a vacuum, do so with care, especially if you have hardwood, laminate, or vinyl floors, to prevent problems. Use the bare floor setting of your machine for the best results.

4. Pay Attention to High Foot Traffic Areas

Homes have high-traffic areas like entryways, hallways, and eating areas. Pay attention to these areas since they receive the most use and abuse. You can clean up these areas more often to prevent dust and debris from settling. If you have carpet, all sorts can get stuck on the fibres, making your floors look dingy. Vigilance is critical if you wish to preserve your floor.

5. Mop with Care

Flooring is not created equal. Some floors, like vinyl or ceramic tiles, can accommodate dripping and wet mops because these materials are water-resistant. Meanwhile, precious flooring such as laminate or hardwood cannot handle wetness. Using a mop for these materials can lead to water damage. Make sure you know what to do with your new floors by asking the professional who installed the materials. Some of them have recommended floor cleaners to help you maintain the floors.

6. Avoid Harsh Chemicals

Speaking of recommended cleaners, it is best to avoid applying products with harsh chemicals on your new floors. Examples of these products are:

• Bleach
• Ammonia
• Alcohol
• Disinfectant spray

Chemicals tend to discolour and damage the surface of some floors. If you want to protect your new floors, stick to specific cleaning materials recommended by your supplier. These floor treatments will work best for your flooring. Always ask the people who installed your floors what they recommend for deep cleaning and follow their advice to preserve your floors. If you have carpets, consider professional steam cleaning at least once a year to remove the deep-seated grime.

7. Install Window Treatments

The harsh rays of the sun can damage your floors and cause discolouration. Flooring materials like hardwood, vinyl, and laminates could discolour and fade with extreme sun exposure. If you live in a warm climate and get a lot of sunshine through your windows, it would help to install thicker curtains or sturdier blinds. This allows you to block off the sun at its peak. Area rugs with UV resistance can also prevent your floors from discolouring.

8. Take Note of Furniture

Do you tend to drag your dining chairs? If you want to protect your new floors, mind the furniture. You can install sticker pads beneath the chairs, tables, etc., to prevent scratches. Be mindful when you shift the position of your furniture. Avoid dragging as this creates damage. Instead, lift when possible and seek the help of others to make carrying the heavy stuff doable. It would also help to use floor protectors for heavier pieces to mitigate dents on the flooring.

You can get the most out of your new flooring with proper care and maintenance. Although floors are meant to bear the brunt of the occupants weights and their activities, this doesn't mean you have the license to abuse your floors. Flooring is expensive, plus it's not something you can change on a whim. Paying careful attention to your floors keeps them fresh. Implementing the correct hygiene habits also means your family step on sanitised and clean floors. This ensures they don’t get stuck with germs. More importantly, the proper habits will extend the life of your floors, ensuring you can enjoy your investment for longer.

Check out this article for some additional ideas!

Our Best Tips for Cleaning Every Type of Floor—and Keeping It Spotless

Giving your space a good cleaning is essential to achieving a happy and healthy home, but maintaining your floors—especially when your house has a variety of different flooring that all requires its own specific type of maintenance—can feel like an insurmountable task. Still, cleaning the floors regularly is a necessity. Once armed with our tips, you'll find that your weekly clean doesn't have to be something you dread. Whether your home is mostly hardwood, carpet, tile, or stone­—or even a mix of all four—we'll teach you how to properly clean it. What's more, we're sharing pro-approved products for every task.

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