How To Clean And Disinfect Floors Including Wood And Tile Floors

Even floors that look clean can hide germs and bacteria from common spillages, soil debris from outside, pet messes, and several other sources.

These microorganisms may find refuge on the floor, posing severe health risks to the household members. Some of the dirt may also contribute to faster deterioration and damage to the floors.

That’s why it is important to effectively learn how to clean and disinfect floors.

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Floor Cleaning Solutions

Listed below are some of the ways of cleaning and disinfecting
different floor types like hardwood, ceramic, porcelain, laminate, and marble.

How to clean and disinfect hardwood floors

Hardwood floors are typically made from wood products and require the utilization of specific products and tools to ensure that you do not damage your floors or end up leaving some harmful micro bacteria behind.

Cleaning of hardwood floors utilizes two natural methods, and the best part is they are in the do-it-yourself category. They include the steam cleaning method and the white vinegar natural solution.

These are the tools and materials required:

Broom with soft bristles
Dustpan
Bucket
Water
Mop cloth
Steam mop
Vinegar

Cleaning with Vinegar Solution

Vinegar solution to clean hardwood floors

The first step is usually the overall removal of the loose dirt and hard debris particles in the house floor by sweeping them up using the broom and collecting them with the dustpan.

This will leave your hardwood floor somewhat clean but retaining some fine particles of dirt and microorganisms.

The next step is to scoop up a cup of the vinegar and pour it into the bucket, then add a gallon of warm water and thoroughly mix to a uniform solution. This is the white vinegar solution for disinfecting and cleaning as the acidic content kills 99.9% of germs.

Then, you will take your cloth mop and dip it in this solution, ensure it is properly soaked, then wring it to rid the excess water that might puddle on the hardwood floor and damage it.

Using the damp mop, you may then begin your mopping of the floor from one area of the house to another while making sure to rinse the mop and wring it frequently to remove collected dirt and germs.

Finally, use a dry cloth/towel to remove any moisture film from the floor or, you may leave it to dry out for a while before allowing activities on it.

Steam Mopping

First, you will clear the floor of loose dirt and debris by sweeping them and collecting them on a dustpan.

Then, you will properly assemble your steam mop and fill up the tank appropriately as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.

The next step is to plug your steam mop into power, turn it on, and allow the steam to build up as instructed in the user manual.

You may clean and disinfect your hardwood floor by using a back-and-forth motion while pressing the trigger switch.

The smooth mop bristles will clean the floor while the hot steam disinfects the floor by killing the germs.

After completely cleaning the floor, you will then switch off the steam mop, unplug it, let it cool down then store it appropriately.

If you are in need of a steam mop or want to upgrade the one you got now, have a look at the top-rated Shark Genius Steam Mop.

How to Clean and Disinfect Tile Floors

Tile floors are popular among many people due to their pricing and the several other advantages they present.

However, just like all flooring materials, they also accumulate dirt and germs, which may cause inconveniences and thus needs a thorough cleaning and disinfecting.

The first thing is to identify the type of tiles you are dealing with. Most of the floor tiles are usually ceramic, porcelain, marble, or rarely stone.

All these have different features, which makes certain cleaning processes great for some while being damaging to others.

Cleaning Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles

1. First, you need to sweep your floor using a soft broom and collect the dirt on a dustpan. You may also clean the floor using a vacuum. This will get rid of all the loose debris.

2. The next step is mopping the floor. Choose from these options:

Fill a bucket with hot water, and using a rag or a Microfiber Cloth Mop, deep the rag into the water, squeeze it, and use it to mop up the floor.
You can add mild dish soap (ph-neutral) to the hot water in the bucket, mix them thoroughly, and begin mopping the floor one area at a time.

Do not clean porcelain tile flooring with ammonia or with cleaners that contain bleach and/or acid. Acid and ammonia-based cleaners may modify grout color.
Milestonetiles

3. You should remember to frequently rinse the mop and wring out to ensure that you do not transfer the dirt to other areas. Use a towel to dry the floor or just leave it for some minutes to self-dry.

4. The grout portions of these tiles are also a major area of concern as most of them are usually porous and thus accumulate dirt and bacteria.

Due to the nature of manufacturing materials, grouts are usually cleaned thoroughly by spraying them with certified grout cleaners and afterward rubbing these surfaces with some hard plastic brush to scrub off and remove the stuck dirt while killing germs.

5. You can also use diluted hydrogen peroxide to clean these areas. Scrub using a toothbrush to get rid of all the dirt.

6. Finally, rinse the tiles with clean water to remove any residual soap, dislodged dirt, or any harmful cleaning products. This will leave your floor clean and safe.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Marble Tiles

The maintenance of marble tiles and stone is very challenging. This is because they are somewhat porous, and exposing them to some chemicals will surely damage them.

Thus, every cleaning solution used to clean marble tiles should always be pH neutral.

Don’t use vinegar, lemon juice, or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine, or onyx surfaces.
Natural Stone Institute

First, you will need to sweep up the floor using a very soft brush or tile-recommended vacuum cleaner with soft bristles. This will remove any loose debris while ensuring that the marble surface is not scratched.

Then, fill a bucket with hot water and maybe add a little pH-neutral soap and mix thoroughly.

Other cleaning solutions recommended for marble are mold and mildew cleaners/ disinfectants, which are also pH neutral, thus posing no risks of etching.

You may use a soft rag to mop the floors by immersing it into the bucket of these solutions, wringing it, and using the damp product to mop up.

Also, you may use a sprayer and a soft brush or cloth to spray the tiles
and gently scrub them.

These should be coupled with frequent rinsing and wringing of the mops and scrubbing cloths to maintain cleanliness and ensure complete disinfection.

After this, mop up the floor again using clean water and then dry it up using a soft dry towel as left-out water paddles might leech into the marble and discolor it.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Laminating Floors

This type of floor is best cleaned using little water.

Start by sweeping and vacuuming using soft tools. This will minimize abrasive cleaning of the floor while removing loose debris.

The next step is to gather the necessary tools and materials. You may use warm water or a mixture of vinegar and water at the rate of about 50 ml vinegar in 3 liters of water to ensure closeness to neutrality.

However, you may also purchase recommended laminate cleaners and use them as cleaning solutions.

In this step, you will either use a damp cloth from these solutions to mop the floor or spray the sections of the laminate you wish to clean and disinfect.

And to avoid wet mopping, make sure to have a dry soft towel or a microfiber mop at hand to wipe the floors.

These will ensure that your laminate floor is clean and disinfected.

Great cleaning tips for your home

Final Note

Living in a clean and bacteria-free environment is important for your health and that of your family. Remember to use ph-neutral cleaning products and avoid wet mopping at all times to guarantee satisfactory results.

Any thoughts on how to clean and disinfect floors?

How to Clean And Disinfect Floors Including Wood and Tile Floors