Your home’s floor is probably the most-used part of your building, taking on foot traffic daily while being exposed to scratches and dirt. Regardless of the flooring type or material you have, proper maintenance is essential to keeping it pristine and extending its life. That also means you’ll minimize how often you replace your floors, saving you loads of money. You already know about regular cleaning and vacuuming. Here are other maintenance tips worth knowing. 

  1. Place doormats at all entryways

One of the simplest things you can do to protect your flooring is to place doormats at all entryways, not just the main front door. A simple doormat can help minimize the amount of dust, dirt, moisture, and debris tracked back into your home from outside. It will also prevent or minimize the spread of dirt from one area to another. That is particularly important as some room floors receive more foot traffic, and therefore, dirt and dust than others. As people enter one room from another or come in from outside, your doormats will act as barriers, capturing dirt and grit from underneath various footwear and preventing them from damaging your floors over time. They’ll also reduce the risks of scratches, stains, and wear, maintaining your floor’s appearance. This simple preventive measure will also reduce your need for regular cleaning and is pretty much effective for all kinds of flooring. However, remember to clean all your doormats regularly. The more dirt and grit they capture, the less capable they become of preventing dirt from spreading across your floors. 

  1. Wipe spills immediately 

It’s impossible to avoid spills sometimes, regardless of how careful you are. So, the next best thing is to wipe the floor immediately if there’s a spill. The last thing you want is to let any liquid sit and dry on your floor; it doesn’t matter what type of flooring material you have. Spills left to dry will stain your floor, sometimes, even permanently, depending on the material. It’s even worse on porous floor materials like wood and tiles. They can also cause unpleasant odors over time while slowly damaging your floor when mold and mildew begin to grow. There’s also the small matter of safety, as wet floors can be slippery, leading to falls. Wiping the floor as soon as there’s a spill will preserve your flooring material and keep your home safe. 

  1. Don’t overuse cleaning products

Overusing or using too many cleaning products to clean your floor surfaces may be counterproductive, especially when those products contain very harsh chemicals. These chemicals can easily ruin the finishing of flooring materials. That is particularly true for wooden floors and can easily lead to severe and sometimes irreversible damage. So, only use very few cleaning products at a time and increase your cleaning frequency instead. The more you clean your floors, the better the results and the longer your flooring materials will last. Speaking of regular cleaning, please be careful of wax buildup on your wooden floors, which is why the next tip is also important.

  1. Be careful about wax buildup on hardwood floors

If your floors start to look cloudy and hazy, it’s likely due to wax buildup on the floor surface. That can happen over time from regular cleaning and maintenance, and it’s a pretty common problem for hardwood floors. Of course, some hardwood floors undergo wax treatments to help seal porous surfaces, protect them from stains, and hide scratches. Those are different from natural wax buildup from regular cleaning. That usually happens if the cleaning products you use contain wax or other similar substances that leave residue behind. Repeatedly applying these products over time will lead to wax accumulation that will leave your floor surfaces looking dull, cloudy, hazy, or even streaky. Also, if the cleaning method involves using excessive amounts of water or liquid cleaners, the excess moisture can dissolve protective wax layers on the floor surface, spreading them around. If you want to prevent wax buildup on your wooden floors, it’s best to use only cleaning products specially formulated for wooden floors. If you notice unsightly wax buildup, you can contact professionals or expert wax removal services. 

  1. Treat your floors with stain protection

Treat your floors with stain protection as often as necessary to reduce the chances of marks and discoloration. As mentioned earlier, spills can penetrate deep into porous floor surfaces and sometimes cause permanent stains. Stain protection will create a barrier on the floor surface, preventing spills from penetrating and causing irreversible damage. The barrier can effectively repel liquids, oils, and other substances, keeping them on the floor surface and making them easier to clean before they have the chance to stain and damage your floor. When done right, stain protection can also prolong the life of your floors by preventing permanent discoloration or etching caused by abrasive substances. The right stain protection can also simplify your cleaning routine, ensuring that your floors continue to look fresh for longer periods. 

  1. Control humidity in your home

Not many homeowners consider this tip, but humidity control is a critical part of proper floor maintenance. Studies show that excessive moisture or dryness in your indoor air can wreak havoc on various types of flooring materials, whether it’s hardwood, laminate, or engineered wood with both plastic and fiber content. Humidity levels over 60% can encourage mold and mildew, capable of damaging not just your floors but also your furniture, wallpaper, and brickwork. High humidity levels can also cause wood floors to swell or warp, creating unsightly gaps between the planks and sometimes causing permanent damage. On the other hand, low humidity levels can cause your wood floors to shrink and even crack over time, compromising their quality and shortening their lifespan. Maintaining humidity levels between 30% and 50% can help prevent humidity-related damage. Depending on where you live, you might want to install a humidifier (in cold and dry locations) or a dehumidifier (in humid climates) to regulate indoor humidity levels and create a stable environment for your floors.

  1. Keep your pet’s nails short

If you have pets at home, your floors will be thankful if you can keep your furry friends’ nails as short as possible. Pets with long nails will leave scratch marks over your wooden, vinyl, laminate, and even tile floors. Some aggressive pets can also gauge the surface of your floors, leaving behind quite unsightly marks and sometimes deep grooves. Over time, such pets can cause permanent and irreparable damage to your floors, and your only alternative may be costly replacements. So, keep your pets’ nails short by regularly trimming them. Additionally, short nails will protect your floor rugs, carpet fibers, and even furniture surfaces. 

  1. Ditch the mop bucket

A stirring mop and a bucket are the first things that come to mind when you think of hard-surface and floor-tile cleaning. However, these are not the best options, as all they do is pass dust particles around. This cleaning method doesn’t necessarily get rid of dirt, especially when the bucket of water turns dirty. You may notice that anytime you dip the mop into the bucket and wipe the floor, grime, and dirt will start to form patterns from the movement of your mop. So, if you have tiled floors, please ditch the mop bucket. Instead, upgrade to steam mops or even microfiber mops, as they’re more proven to not leave dirt and grime behind. This tip is particularly helpful for your tiled bathroom floors, so feel free to consider this. 

  1. Conduct regular maintenance checks 

Take the time to inspect your floors, looking out for signs of wear, scratches, loose boards, dents, and other types of damage. Identify potential issues and address them before they escalate into costly problems. Find out if some parts of your floors are fading compared to others. For example, areas covered by rugs, carpets, and large furniture pieces might remain pristine, while bare areas exposed to foot traffic and dirt might fade over time. Consider moving rugs and furniture pieces around once in a while to prevent uneven fading. Also, assess the overall hygiene of your floor and identify areas that require more thorough cleaning. Ultimately, incorporating regular maintenance checks into your floor care routine can help preserve its beauty and functionality, keeping it in good condition for a longer time. 

  1. Use area rugs in your kitchen

Your kitchen is probably one of the busiest parts of your home. Not only does the floor there receive high foot traffic, but it’s also more prone to spills, stains, and accidents, particularly when cooking. Using area rugs in your kitchen can help protect your floor from permanent damage. These rugs will provide an additional layer of protection, especially in front of sinks and cooking areas where spills and stains are usually common. Strategically placing rugs will also shield vulnerable spots from damages caused by falling utensils, spilled food, and heavy traffic. They will also protect those vulnerable spots from scratches, dirt, and debris over time.