How often should you clean concrete floors?
Experts recommend that you use a pH-neutral cleaner on your concrete floors at least once a week. This regular maintenance helps prevent dirt and grit from building up, which can scratch the surface over time. For a deeper clean, you may want to hire a professional for hard finish floor cleaning every one to two years.
How do pros clean extremely dirty concrete floors?
Pros clean very dirty concrete floors with a combination of high-powered equipment and specialized cleaning solutions. These can include pressure washing, industrial-grade degreasers, and mechanical scrubbers to break down embedded dirt, oil, and stains. They generally finish the job with a thorough rinsing to restore the floor’s appearance, and removal of the dirty water.
What questions should I ask before hiring concrete floor cleaners?
Before hiring a pro to clean your concrete floor, here are some questions to ask:
Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
What's your cleaning process, and are the products you use safe for kids and pets?
How long do you expect the job to take?
Can you give me a written estimate that breaks down all the costs?
Is there anything I need to do to prepare the space before you get here?
Do you offer a satisfaction guarantee?
After cleaning, do you recommend sealing the concrete, and is that a service you provide?
How do you clean hardwood, concrete, vinyl and laminate floors?
After you get new floors installed in your home, make sure you maintain them. Use these tips to keep your floors clean, shiny and polished.
How to Clean Concrete Floors
Start by sweeping or vacuuming the entire surface to remove loose debris. Mopping will require different substances based on the type of concrete floor. For a polished concrete floor, use a specialized polished concrete cleaner. For a painted concrete floor, use a mild all-purpose cleaner. A sealed concrete floor can be cleaned with dishwashing liquid, while an unsealed floor is best cleaned with trisodium phosphate and stain removers. Use kitty litter or cornstarch for grease stains, and distilled white vinegar for rust stains.
For more tips on how to clean and maintain your concrete floors, consult with your professional concrete flooring contractor.
How to Clean Hardwood Floors
Cleaning hardwood floors typically requires a mop, bucket and some type of hardwood floor cleaner. Start by removing furniture and objects. Vacuum up all debris (or use a dust mop), moving with the grain. Spray your cleaner on a small section of the floor, and mop in a figure-eight motion, working backward. Make sure there are no puddles.
In high-traffic areas, you should mop one or two times per week. Low-traffic areas should be mopped at least once per month.
To ensure you're cleaning and maintaining your hardwood floors properly, speak with your hardwood flooring installation specialist.
How to Clean Laminate Floors:
Start by vacuuming to remove dust, dirt and other debris. The best mop for laminate floors is a microfiber mop with a sprayer feature. Spray and mop one small area at a time to avoid standing liquid on the floor. Go over the floor with a dry microfiber cloth after mopping to make sure all liquid is gone.
Although you can use a damp mop, never use a wet mop on laminate floors. Moisture can cause the flooring to bubble, swell and buckle. Instead, use a dedicated laminate floor mop with a laminate floor cleaner spray. The best mop for laminate floors is typically made with microfiber, which picks up dirt and absorbs moisture well.
Consulting with your laminate flooring installer is a good idea if you've never had laminate floors and need more tips on how to clean them properly.
How to Clean Vinyl Floors
Cleaning vinyl plank flooring is easy. Start by sweeping and vacuuming up dirt, dust and debris. Then use a damp — not wet — mop or rag with warm water. While vinyl is waterproof, an excessive amount of water can leak between the seams and affect the glue bond with the floor. When you feel a chemical is needed, make sure to choose cleaning products safe for vinyl planks.
Reach out to your vinyl flooring installer for tips on how to further maintain and care for your vinyl floors.
For more tips, read our guide on how to clean and maintain all types of flooring.
Should I DIY or hire a pro to clean my concrete floors?
Cleaning concrete floors can by a DIY-friendly project. However, you may prefer to hire a pro for these reasons:
Pros often use industrial-grade scrubbers and high-pressure washers to remove deep-set stains and grime that DIY methods can't.
Pros can often tailor the right approach for different surfaces, from basic concrete to other types of hard finish floor cleaning.
Hiring a pro typically saves you time and physical effort, and they can often complete the job in a fraction of the time it would take to do it yourself.
After cleaning, a pro may apply a sealant to help protect your concrete from future stains, moisture, and wear.