Floor Care

Floor care checklist

From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

• Doormats at every entry
• Hard floors swept or dust mopped often
• Carpet vacuumed, more often in busy walkways
• Felt pads under furniture legs, worn ones replaced
• Chair mat under rolling desk chairs
• Barely damp mop on hardwood and laminate
• Cleaners match the floor type and were tested in a hidden spot
• Nonslip pads under area rugs
• Spills blotted from the outside in, never rubbed
• Floors near sinks, tubs, toilets and appliances checked for swelling
• Loose tiles, lifting seams or soft spots shared in writing
• Spare flooring kept in a labeled box

All done. Your floors are set to look good for years.

What each floor likes best

• Carpet likes regular vacuuming, more often in hallways and busy walkways, and quick blotting when something spills.
• Hardwood and laminate like dry dusting or sweeping and only a lightly damp mop. If the floor stays wet for more than a minute or two after mopping, there is too much water.
• Vinyl and tile handle damp mopping well with a mild cleaner made for that floor.

Every floor is a little different, so the care instructions from the floor’s maker are always the best guide when you have them.

When something spills or floods

1. If water is still coming, stop the source if you safely can, like turning off the supply valve to a toilet or sink.
2. Soak up the water right away with towels or a wet vacuum.
3. For carpet spills, blot with a clean white cloth, working from the edge of the spot toward the center. Then blot with plain water and blot dry. Please don’t rub.
4. Move rugs and furniture off the wet area so the floor underneath can dry.
5. Run fans and open windows if the weather allows.
6. Take photos and share what happened in writing as soon as you can, even if it looks dry, including where it is, like “by the dishwasher.”
7. Keep an eye on the spot for a few days. Cupping, swelling, a musty smell or dark spots are worth sharing again.

Floors next to dishwashers, refrigerators, toilets and tubs are often the first to show a hidden leak. Take a quick look for swelling, soft spots or lifting edges every so often.

A few things to avoid

• Please don’t wet mop hardwood or laminate with lots of water, or use a steam cleaner on them, unless the floor’s maker says it’s okay.
• Please don’t drag furniture or appliances. Lift them, or use sliders or a helper.
• Please don’t use bleach, ammonia, vinegar or gritty powders on floors unless the floor’s care instructions allow it.
• Please don’t leave wet towels, potted plants without saucers or pet water bowls sitting right on wood or laminate.

Guides that go well with this one

• Carpet Care
• Tile and Grout Care
• Normal Wear and Tear vs. Damage
• Stairs, Railings and Trip Safety
• Water Shutoffs and Leak Detection