How to choose the right floor cleaner for different materials

As a rule, we monitor the composition of the products we eat and carefully study what it is made of. cosmeticswhich we use. But at the same time, we don’t think at all about how I wash the floors and other surfaces in the house. But in vain: the right product not only cleans the material well, but also significantly prolongs its life.

What Ingredients to Look for in a Floor Cleaner?

Surfactants (surfactants)

They lowerDoes Anyone Know What's "Actually" in Floor Cleaner? This Cleaning Expert Tells All / Well + Good surface tension of water and help to remove dirt, grease or oil. Surfactant molecules come into contact with the pollutant and easily remove what water cannot handle.

Solvents

They help tooDoes Anyone Know What's "Actually" in Floor Cleaner? This Cleaning Expert Tells All / Well + Good fight fat. That is why solvents must be in cleaning products not only for the floor, but also for kitchen surfaces.

Chelating agents

Minerals like magnesium and zinc are good for our body, but not for sex. Chelating agents increase the effectiveness of the cleaning agent and allow the removal of

Does Anyone Know What's "Actually" in Floor Cleaner? This Cleaning Expert Tells All / Well + Good similar harmful particles from surfaces.

preservatives

They protect the cleanser itself from bacteria and any other influences harmful to its composition.

What else to consider when choosing the right tool

Compounds with the wrong formula can seriously damage the flooring. First of all, you need to pay attention to the pH level - a measure of acidity. Cleaners are classified as acidic (pH less than 7), neutral (pH 7) and alkaline (pH greater than 7). It is better to choose options with a neutral indicator - too aggressive solutions can leave marks, especially on parquet.

If you want the most gentle and safe product, look for an eco-friendly one. It is more expensive, but does not contain components harmful to health and sex.

Which product to choose and how to wash floors with different coatings

Laminate

Substances that can8 No‑Sweat Tricks to Clean Any Type of Floor / Real Simple to harm this coating, not so much. Laminate owes its strength to the top layer. It protects the surface from wear and does not allow it, for example, to fade in the sun. To keep these properties longer, it is important to prevent water from getting under the laminate.

Experts recommend wiping such floors with a dry cloth or vacuum in a special mode for tiles. Wet cleaning should be carried out only in heavily polluted places. If you use detergent, apply it to the cloth, not to the floor.

Steam cleaning is best avoided: hot air will break the structure of the material and damage the decorative film. Also, do not polish the laminate, it is better to replace it.

Linoleum

The main dangers for him are sand and fine dirt that we bring from the street. Therefore, before wet cleaning, be sure to do dry.

Acid, alkaline and abrasive products, as well as acetone-based compounds and linoleum solvents, will not work. But it can be cleaned with a self-prepared solution.

Add a few drops of liquid to hot water for dish washing and pour into a spray bottle. Treat the floor with a solution and wipe with a damp microfiber cloth. After such cleaning, linoleum should dry fairly quickly. If the floors still feel slightly sticky, wipe them again with a cloth dampened with water.

Parquet

Many parquet floor oils contain8 No‑Sweat Tricks to Clean Any Type of Floor / Real Simple polyurethane additives or wax. If you're not sure what kind of protective layer your floor has, run your finger over it. There was a trace - from above, most likely, wax. In this case, dry cleaning and vacuuming the floors should be carried out.

In general, for any type of parquet, it is better to use gentle, soft products. You can prepare a cleaning solution yourself. To do this, add ¼ cup of neutral pH liquid soap to a bucket of water. Use a microfiber cloth for cleaning, do not forget to wring it out thoroughly and make sure that water does not flow into the cracks between the boards.

Tile

Surfaces made of tiles and porcelain stoneware practically do not collect dirt. However, taking care of them still requires thoroughness.

Do not use acid-containing and abrasive products to clean tiled floors. They can damage not only the material itself, but also the connecting cement joints.

At the same time, home remedies for tiles cope with dirt no worse than store-bought ones. Mix ¼ cup of vinegar with one drop of dishwashing liquid and warm water in a half-litre spray bottle. Gradually work the floor with this solution, and then wipe with a damp microfiber cloth.

Useful for occasional general cleaning steam cleaner. It will remove stains, and at the same time bacteria.

After washing, the tiled floor can be wiped with a woolen cloth: the surface will shine, and the seams will become less dirty.

A natural stone

When caring for a natural stone floor, you should stay away from vinegar, bleach, alcohol, acidic and abrasive agents. All this can damage the surface.

Choose pH-neutral solutions and soft microfiber cloths. Do not use too much detergent - it may leave streaks on the surface. A steam cleaner will help to cope with especially difficult pollution on a stone floor.