Keeping the floor at home clean and disinfected all the time is an important measure to practice regularly, especially since being hygienic is essential in this pandemic era. In these unprecedented times, this is one of the major things to keep in mind, as the floor can be a breeding ground of bacteria if not properly cleaned. And with several floor types at different areas of the house, there are various ways on how to disinfect and clean them as well. It is worth taking an extra step in preventing the spread of germs.
As a general rule, floors in high-traffic areas such as kitchens, dining areas, bathrooms, hallways, and the like, should be cleaned the most — swept or vacuumed every one to three days, then mopped once a week too. But mopping still depends on what type of floor you have installed on certain areas of your home. Some may only require sweeping and vacuuming to maintain the finish and life of the flooring.
However, before actually saying you will be disinfecting your floors, you must know the difference between simply cleaning the floors than disinfecting them, keeping them virus-free. While cleaning is helpful in the removal of germs, it does not necessarily kill all of them. It only helps in reducing the risk of infection. But given this pandemic situation, cleaning them is not enough. You have to perform disinfecting procedures like using chemical-based products, helping to kill germs on surfaces and floors. Not all floor cleaners are the same, though. Some may be more efficient and effective than the others, so you must have to make an informed decision with regards to the floor cleaner you will be using, to permanently kill germs on the floors.
Furthermore, as mentioned above that there are several floor types installed at certain parts of the house, you must ensure that you are taking into consideration these types in accordance with the kind of cleaning agent you will be using, and whether you will wet mop them or just practice regular sweeping. Cleaning the floors is a necessity, but does not actually have to be an extreme task. Just having to give your home a good cleaning and disinfecting measures, to achieve a happy and healthy home.
Make Sure You Clean Regularly
Clean your floors regularly. Not once a year, not once a month. Rather try to clean them three times a week, or if possible, practice sweeping them as regularly as doing it everyday. The number of times you need to clean your floors typically depends on the amount of traffic the area gets at home. Floors in high-traffic areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, dining area, hallways, and others, should be cleaned frequently.
The cleaning method you will be performing should depend on the floor types of the areas. Some mediums are more finicky to clean than others. Having hardwood floors, for instance. Hardwood needs special care, and needs to be treated with caution. It is prone to become damaged if not cleaned using the right kinds of cleaners and cleaning agents. You must avoid using abrasive cleaning supplies like scrubbing pads or hard bristle brushes to prevent scratches as well. Sunlight, soap, water, and chemicals can severely damage this type of floor so you have to be wary of the methods you will perform. With carpeted floors, on the other hand, you have to sweep and vacuum them to effectively remove the dirt within.
Learning when and how to clean the floors will help keep it virus-free. It will be of help in improving the overall safety within the household as well. Whether it is carpet, wood, tiles, epoxy, or other materials, it is essential to perform effective cleaning methods such as vacuuming, weeping, or mopping, in order to get rid of the dirt, debris and other bacteria from the floor.
Use the Right Floor Cleaner
In the process of disinfecting the floors, you have to choose the right floor cleaner with properties that are not too harmful for them. Regular floor cleaners are not enough since they do not have the sufficient amount of disinfectant properties.
The most effective cleaning agents would be those containing sodium hypochlorite. They are recommended by the leading health organizations of the world as a medium for cleaning dirty floors and surfaces. This element is known for its antimicrobial activity, which does not leave behind any toxic residues. Products containing this are typically inexpensive and can act fast as well. With this, it is considered to be the ideal and reliable cleaning agent to use. However, of course, you have to know the directions on how to properly use this. It includes knowing how long the disinfecting product is required to be on the floor for the proper killing of germs and other bacteria.
Moreover, given that there are several floor types, you have to choose the cleaning detergent that is designed for the specific type. Avoid those products that were advertised as “mop and shine”. It might hold elements that can lead to a buildup that turns into yellow over time. With hardwood surfaces, going through the disinfection process may be a little difficult. It does not essentially make use of the typical cleaning agents. They might get damaged in the long run if used. So in order to properly maintain hardwood floors, you might only have to sweep and vacuum the floors to get rid of the loose debris and dust.
Use Warm Water and the Right Amount of Floor Cleaner
With regards to mopping the floor when cleaning, make sure you use warm water. It is known to be quicker and better for cleaning than the cold one. Mix the right amount, probably at least 2 capfuls of cleaning agent to warm water. Do not feel tempted to add an extra amount of cleaner, thinking that it might actually enhance its cleaning power. It is certainly not a good idea. Extra-concentrated water will not clean any better, and might just make your floor harder to rinse. Make sure to read the instructions on the cleaning agent carefully, to be able to use the right amount.
Invest in a Steam Cleaner
In addition to the proper ways of cleaning and disinfecting the floors, there are certain technological advances that will help make cleaning easier for you. Particularly given that various floor types are cleaned with different measures. It is probably an ideal procedure to be investing in a steam cleaner. Especially if you plan to deep clean your entire home. It is actually appropriate for most floor types, with the ability to kill bacteria because of its extremely high heat.
Steam cleaning has become an ideal cleaning method of choice for most households. It is because they also aim to have virus-free homes. Unlike the traditional cleaning methods that can sometimes do more harm than good, cleaning the floors with the use of steam cleaners has amazing benefits for you and your entire household’s health.
This type of cleaning method is actually a safer and an eco-friendly alternative. For most part, steam cleaning only requires water. Thus, it uses far fewer chemicals and harmful properties compared to those cleaning agents. Though this is the case, it is still effective as a means of killing germs, viruses, molds, and the like.
Key Takeaway
These days, it is definitely essential to always keep your floors clean, whatever the floor types you have installed on different areas of your house. Maintaining a clean home should always be your priority. Especially in this pandemic situation which imposes a lot of health risks. You must keep in mind these proper ways to ensure that you are doing the cleaning right — for a safer, cleaner, and a virus-free home.
