How to Clean & Disinfect Your Floors?

Of the many things the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, one is to clean our homes more regularly. From kitchen counters, door knobs, and bedroom almirah, microscopic bacteria is sitting everywhere. And, not to forget, floors. Due to heavy traffic, they usually contain a lot of dirt and germs, even if you cover them with carpets.

How often you should clean and disinfect floors depends on the amount of traffic they receive. For most floors, once in a couple of weeks works well. But, if you have kids or pets at home, the cleaning frequency should be adjusted accordingly.

Should you clean or disinfect your floors? What’s the process for these two methods? Let’s discuss.

Should You Clean or Disinfect Your Floors?

The first thing you need to note is that cleaning and disinfecting are not the same. Cleaning helps you remove germs without killing them. On the other hand, disinfecting involves killing germs using chemicals to reduce the risks of spreading infection. It’s always a good approach to clean the surfaces first and then disinfect to ensure the safety of your family. Always use a high-quality multi surface cleaner and disinfectant.

If you have a sick person at home, make sure you keep a separate bathroom and bedroom for them. If they are able to clean themselves, provide them Eco-friendly disinfectants and other cleaning supplies.

How to Clean Your Floors?

Here’s quick guide to clean different types of floors-

Hardwood

Before cleaning the hardwood floor, you need to first check whether the floor is sealed or not. In case the floor is unsealed, avoid using water as it can damage the wood. For sealed floors, it’s ok to use water for cleaning purposes.

The hardwood cleaning process - firstly, vacuum the floor to remove loose dust particles, pet hair, and debris. Make sure you use a soft nozzle. Buy a high-quality cleaner from a local hardware store. To get the best results, it’s necessary to follow the instructions given on the label. Don’t let the water pool on the floors. After cleaning, remove the excessive cleaning agent. If you see a soapy film after cleaning, use a clean cloth to clean the floor.

Tiles

You should vacuum or sweep tiles regularly in order to remove the surface dirt. Mix a cleaning agent with hot water and clean the floors. Don’t forget to clean grout as it can collect dirt particles. However, you can seal the grout after six months to reduce the risks of dirt or grease penetrating into it.

Hydrogen peroxide and water solution is effective in grout cleaning. Mix both in equal amounts and rub the grout using a toothbrush. However, you can also use the baking soda method. Apply a baking soda paste on the grout area, and leave it overnight. Clean the floor in the morning.

Linoleum

For cleaning the linoleum floor, first sweep or vacuum them. Apply a cleaning agent on a dry cloth, and clean the floor. Rinse the floor, and remove extra water using a clean cloth.

For removing stubborn marks, rub the floor gently using a nylon pad. After finishing the cleaning work, sanitize your hands using a high-quality liquid hand sanitizer spray.

How to Disinfect Your Floors?

Not all the floor types are disinfected the same way. Here’s how to disinfect different types of floors-

Hardwood

Before starting the disinfection process, clean the floor using a soft broom to collect the loose debris. You can also use a vacuum for this.

Prepare a disinfecting solution; see the instructions on the disinfectant label. Apply the solution on the mopped area to pre-wash it. Leave the floor for at least 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly, and clean.

For disinfecting hardwood floors, you should use a high-quality multi surface cleaner and disinfectant. Not sure whether a disinfectant is good for your floor? Test on a small, less visible section. If it’s working, use it on the whole floor.

Tiles

Before disinfecting the tile floor, make sure you move all the furniture items and other household accessories out of the way. Now, follow these steps-

• Sweep- Sweep the tile floor carefully to remove the excess dirt.

• Plan the process- It’s good to start from the farthest corner and then work the way towards the door.

• Prepare the disinfectant solution- See the instructions on the disinfectant label.

• Mop- Mop the floor using the disinfectant solution.

• Wait- Let the disinfectant solution sit on the floor for a few minutes (as suggested by the manufacturer)

• Rinse- Rinse the floor thoroughly.

During the disinfection process, your hands may collect germs, which can cause various health issues. So, after disinfecting the floor, make sure you wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. However, you can also use a liquid hand sanitizer spray to keep your hands germ-free.

Wrapping it up, cleaning and disinfecting are two different terms. Cleaning floors involves removing germs without killing them while disinfecting is killing germs to reduce the risks for spreading infections. Different floors require different cleaning and disinfecting techniques. So, make sure you read the instructions on the cleaners and disinfectants before using them. Always use Eco-friendly disinfectants and cleaning agents to make your floors germ-free.