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By Jana
Ward
"Hi! I'm home!" While you may be glad to see your
family, you probably aren't too fond of the sand, mud, grass, and
other debris brought in on their shoes. First and foremost, get
good, industrial-style doormats and put them at each entrance to
your home. Then get your family to use them. The more
dirt left outside, the less to clean up inside!
Carpets
Lightly vacuum your carpet each day to remove surface dirt, and
thoroughly vacuum once a week to remove deep-seated dirt. Pay
special attention to areas in front of couches and chairs since
people tend to shift their feet as they sit, and this grinds dirt on
their shoes into your carpet. While vacuuming, move the vacuum
over the carpet slowly and make several passes over each area.
Work in overlapping, parallel strokes, and use the correct setting
so the vacuum’s brushes ride in close contact with the carpet's
pile. Get rid of carpet indentations from furniture by holding
a steam iron above the carpet so that the steam reaches the fibers,
then brush the carpet with an old hairbrush. Carpets should be
steam cleaned once every 12-18 months. Use carpet scraps to
test any cleaning method or solution before you try them on your
carpeted floors.
Today, most carpets are constructed of man-made fibers that are
protected by chemicals that repel stains, and you will want to take
extra care when you clean these carpets. If you discover any
stains, blot up as much of the spill as possible with a clean, white
absorbent cloth or white paper towel. Apply warm water
liberally to the stained area and blot with a clean, white absorbent
cloth or white paper towels. Press down firmly to remove as
much moisture as possible. Repeat the process until no stain
is evident on the cloth or paper towels.
If the stain remains on the carpet, prepare a solution of one quart
warm water with one teaspoon of a mild non-bleach liquid laundry
detergent. Do not use extra detergent since excess detergent
left in the carpet can make the stains worse. Using a clean,
white cloth or sponge, apply enough of the solution to cover the
entire stain. Let it soak into the carpet for 5-10 minutes so
that the spotting material has time to break up. Blot up the
excess moisture with a clean, white cloth or white paper
towels. Rinse the area thoroughly with warm water, and blot to
remove the excess moisture. Repeat this process until all
detergent is removed. Absorb remaining moisture with layers of
white paper towels weighted down with a heavy object such as a vase
or dish. Leave on overnight to allow any residue to soak into
the paper towels. When the area you cleaned is completely dry,
vacuum or brush the pile to restore the carpet's texture.
Ceramic Tile
Tile continues to be a popular floor covering for many rooms of the
home, but it is primarily found in areas with high concentrations of
water and traffic. The simplest long-term maintenance is to
not let surface soil build up.
According to American Olean Tile Company, the easiest way to keep
tile clean is to wipe it down with a towel after each use.
This will control soap scum or hard water film and help prevent
mildew growth. Tile itself is easy to clean with normal
household cleaners, but the trouble spot for most homeowners is the
grout that holds the tiles together. Mildew in grout joints is
a common problem in bathrooms since it thrives on splatters of body
oils, shampoos and hair conditioners in the warm, humid darkness of
poorly ventilated showers. Most times, a mildew remover or a
vigorous scrubbing with a stiff brush and a household cleaner will
remove the mildew. For stubborn stains, apply a paste of
scouring powder to the grout and leave it on for five or six hours.
Then scrub and rinse thoroughly. To help prevent mildew from
forming, be sure that the room gets plenty of light and has good air
circulation.
After the surface is dry, apply a grout sealer which can be found at
hardware or home improvement stores. Another method is to seal
the grout joints with Genuine Old English Lemon Oil Furniture
Polish. For either method, apply three consecutive coats of
the product. Be sure to allow each coat to dry for one hour
before applying the next. Remove any excess from glazed tile
with a damp sponge or denatured alcohol.
Wooden floors
Wood floors are easy to maintain since a vacuuming or damp mopping
is all that needs to be done for routine cleaning. Vacuuming
is preferred since the suction picks up dirt and grit from crevices
and seams as well as the floor's surface. Damp mops should be
only damp, not wet, and only used on sealed, finished floors.
Wood floors should be sealed to protect them from moisture.
Avoid using wet mops or sudsy water when you clean them since the
less moisture a wood floor sees, the longer it will last.
Refinish worn, peeling, stained or otherwise damaged surfaces as
soon as you see the damage. Wax or surface-treat wood flooring
before it really needs it, usually two or three times a year,
with "spirit" wax. Water-based "self-polishing" waxes
can damage wood floors. Remove spot-and stain-causing
materials from wood flooring as soon as possible, and treat spots
and stains right away. Touch up scratches and gouges with
stick shellac.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is easy to clean and very useful in high-traffic
areas. Regularly sweep or vacuum the floor to remove loose,
scratch-causing dirt. Wipe up spills as soon as possible
with a paper towel or a damp sponge. When needed, wash the
floor with the manufacturer’s recommended cleaner since soap-based
cleansers, abrasive cleansers or "mop and shine" products can leave
a dull film on your floor. Do not use abrasive
scrubbing tools on vinyl since they will scratch the
finish. Over time and with use, any vinyl's shine will
dull. Polish the floor with an approved floor polish, but
don't use paste wax or solvent-based polishes.
To keep your floor looking new, put down a plywood panel when you
move appliances and furniture, and "walk" the appliances across
it. Also, use floor protectors under furniture to reduce
permanent indentations. Note that rolling casters can damage
the surface of vinyl floors, but if you must use them, double-wheel
types cause less damage.
With a little routine care and attention, your floors can maintain
the good looks that you were attracted to when you moved into your
home. If you have specific questions about new floor products
available in the area, contact the Greater San Antonio Builders
Association for a free copy of the Remodelors® Council
Directory. Inside you can find a professional who can answer
your questions. | 