Simple Apartment Cleaning Tips: Linoleum Floors

Because of the materials used to build the spaces, apartment cleaning is a unique task. Cleaning linoleum floors can be particularly troublesome as you often cannot use the same products or methods as you can to clean other surfaces. The following tips will help you with cleaning linoleum floors.

Avoid the Mop

The water and soap absorbed into a mop prior to its use on the floor make them difficult and inadvisable to use on a linoleum floor. Linoleum floors should not be soaked or heavily covered with solution. Using too much soap may dissolve the glue underneath the flooring, causing it to curl or leave a residue behind. Additionally, using a mop may just push the dirt between the flooring’s cracks rather than pick it up.

Should you wish to use a mop, squeeze it thoroughly to remove as much excess water as possible and use a solution designed for linoleum floors. Even then, use less solution than is recommended to avoid leaving a residue. Rinse the floor thoroughly with a clean mop after washing.

Dust Before Washing

The key to washing a linoleum floor is to dust it prior to washing. While a seemingly difficult task, merely wiping a dry cloth or mop across the floor’s surface will remove most of the dirt, meaning you will not just push it over the floor to accumulate in cracks and corners. Remember that whatever dirt captured in the fabric will remain, however, and so do not just use the same tool you plan on cleaning the floor with as this will merely return the dirt to the floor.

Specifically Designed Linoleum Products

Home improvement and flooring stores will often have cleaning solutions specifically designed to be used on linoleum floors. While these products may also be found at grocery stores, they may not be as effective or have as little residue as the professional products. Because of this, the trip to these special floors is worthwhile.

Specifically Designed Cleaning Tools

Regardless of the fact that they are very rarely used in new construction, companies have designed utensils to be used to clean linoleum floors. These tools will prevent residue and not pus dirt between the floor’s cracks. For best results, use the solution sold in conjunction with the tools and then rinse with clean water, being careful not to over-saturate the floor.

Don’t Forget the Corners

On a linoleum floor, dirt tends to collect in the corners. Even if you are using the proper tools and solutions, do not be surprised to find that the corners of your floor are dirtier than the rest of the surface. Subsequent to washing the floor, take rag or soft brush to the corners to remove any collected dirt.

Linoleum floors are easy to care for, but present certain issues that must be accounted for. Purchase the proper tools and solutions to clean the floor will make the job faster and more successful. Expect to need to take special care of the floor’s corners, though, or that dirt will just spread back onto the rest of the surface.