Floor Care Tips From US Design Source

One of the most important things you can do to protect your biggest investment (your home) is properly maintain your floors. Cleaning and maintenance should be addressed with all flooring! Proper maintenance will add years to your floors useful life. To help you properly maintain your floors we have put together this floor care section. Look for the category that best describes your floor below!

Carpet

Carpet is one of the most cost effective floor covering materials, especially when it is properly maintained. Here are some useful maintenance guidelines to keep your carpet looking beautiful:

Place mats and rugs at all entries into your home to catch dirt, and frequently shake out the mats.
Always clean spills immediately and blot the spill so you don't spread it.
Vacuum low traffic areas at least once a week and make sure you vacuum the main traffic areas in your house more often.
For deep stains use a C.R.I (Carpet and Rug Institute) certified product like Capture. Capture cleaning compounds will dissolve allergens and break down deep stains.

For more carpet facts and information visit C.R.I's website www.carpet-rug.org.

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors can be the most expensive but beautiful flooring option for your home. Maintaining your hardwood floors is easy by following these useful guidelines:

Place mats and rugs at all entries into your home to catch dirt, and frequently shake out the mats.
Since moisture is a hardwood floor's biggest enemy, make sure you clean up all liquid spills ASAP!
Chairs and furniture can scrape the finish of your floors, so place protective felt pads on the bottoms of their legs.
Regularly dust mop, sweep, or vacuum (with the brushes turned off). Built up dust and dirt can deluster the finish of your hardwood floors.
Use a manufacturer approved hardwood floor cleaner such as Bona to deep clean your floors.

Ceramic & Porcelain Tile

Tile is the most durable flooring option for your home and maintenance is pretty straight forward.

Place mats and rugs at all entries into your home to catch dirt, and frequently shake out the mats.
Tile can stain so make sure you wipe up any liquids other than water ASAP.
Sweep or dust mop weekly to remove any loose dirt or dust. Damp mop regularly with a manufacturer recommended tile and grout cleaner.
For some added shine, rinse with clean water and wipe dry.

Cork

Cork flooring is an awesome eco-friendly flooring choice because it is rapidly renewable. Cork comes in a variety of colors and styles that all require the same maintenance. Here is the recommended floor care guidelines for cork:

As with all floors, you should place mats and rugs at all entries into your home to catch dirt, and frequently shake out the mats.
Cork is naturally stain & moisture resistant, but you should still quickly wipe up any spills.
Each week dust mop, sweep, or vacuum (with the brushes turned off). Just like hardwood floors, cork's protective finish can be delustered by the build up of dirt and dust.
Place felt pads on the legs of chairs and furniture so they do not scratch your cork's finish.
Always use a manufacturer approved cleaning product to deep clean your cork floors.

Bamboo

Bamboo is another eco-friendly flooring product. Bamboo floors are a great choice for almost any home, but some special precautions must be taken when caring for Bamboo. Bamboo floors can be softer than traditional hardwood floors, allowing them to scratch easier. The moisture susceptibility of bamboo is another issue to consider. It is easily stained or destroyed by water or other liquids.

Place mats and rugs at all entries into your home to catch dirt, and frequently shake out the mats.
Since Bamboo can be soft, keep your pet's nails trimmed short to help prevent scratching.
Since moisture is a one of bamboos floors biggest enemies, make sure you clean up all liquid spills ASAP!
Chairs and furniture can scrape the finish of your floors so place protective felt pads on the bottoms of their legs.
Regularly dust mop, sweep, or vacuum (with the brushes turned off). Built up dust and dirt can deluster the finish of your Bamboo floors.
Use a manufacturer approved Bamboo floor cleaner such as Bona to deep clean your floors.

Laminate

Laminate is a good economical flooring choice and it's fairly easy to maintain. Use these tips to care for your Laminate floors:

Place mats and rugs at all entries into your home to catch dirt, and frequently shake out the mats.
Moisture is a laminate floor's biggest enemy. Make sure you clean up all liquid spills ASAP!
Chairs and furniture can scrape the finish of your floors so place protective felt pads on the bottoms of their legs.
Regularly dust mop, sweep, or vacuum (with the brushes turned off).
Use a manufacturer approved laminate floor cleaner such as Bona to deep clean your floors.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl floors are very durable and easy to clean! Follow these guidelines to keep your vinyl floors looking their best:

Place mats and rugs at all entries into your home or business to catch dirt, and frequently shake out mats.
Sweep or dust mop weekly to remove any loose dirt or dust.
Damp mop regularly with a manufacturer recommended vinyl floor cleaner.
For some added shine, rinse with clean water and wipe dry.

Stone

Stone is extremely durable and can add beauty and depth to your home. However because stone is porous, some precautions should be taken when cleaning. By following these tips you can keep your Stone floors looking beautiful:

Place mats and rugs at all entries into your home to catch dirt, and frequently shake out mats.
Stone can stain because it is porous so make sure you wipe up any liquids other than water ASAP.
Sweep or dust mop weekly to remove any loose dirt or dust.
Damp mop regularly with a manufacturer recommended stone and grout cleaner.
For some added shine, rinse with clean water and wipe dry.
Do not use cleaners such as Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Ammonia, or other harsh or abrasive cleaners on stone.