Only regular washing of all surfaces in a living space helps to maintain cleanliness and get rid of pathogenic bacteria that can cause dangerous diseases. To ensure that cleaning does not take much time and is as effective as possible, it is necessary to use special compounds. You can buy them in specialized stores, or you can prepare a floor cleaner with your own hands from ingredients that are always available in any home. It will be as effective as the finished one.
Recommendations for cleaning floors
It is important to understand that different types of flooring need to be cared for differently.
Therefore, it would be wise to listen to the advice of professionals on how to clean the floors in your home quickly and conscientiously. First, you need to acquire equipment - a mop, rags and disinfectants (you can make them yourself). For wet cleaning you will also need a bucket or basin.
When purchasing a mop, you should not save money. Nowadays, you can buy a floor cleaning device that is already equipped with a mop. It can be removed and rinsed without much effort. In addition, it leaves absolutely no streaks.
Before starting work, you need to sweep the floor with a broom or thoroughly vacuum it.
It is also necessary to remove from it all unnecessary things that may interfere with high-quality cleaning (floor flowerpots, chairs, etc.). When putting your room in order, you need to remember that all floor detergents are harmful to the skin of your hands to one degree or another. To protect it from the aggressive effects of chemicals, it is advisable to wear technical gloves for cleaning, and after completing the work, apply cream to your hands.
Disinfection Precautions
- buy household chemicals with minimal toxic effects. To protect your own health, use traditional methods of disinfection. Proceed with chemical disinfection in extreme cases;
- It is advisable for adults to work with disinfectants;
- people with hypersensitivity or allergic reactions cannot use household chemicals;
- Before cleaning, open windows and doors to allow fresh air to flow in;
- Carry out activities using rubber gloves. If possible, wear a respirator and gown;
- carry out the disinfection steps strictly according to the instructions;
- store working solutions out of the reach of children;
- After completing general cleaning, wash your hands under running water and lubricate them with softening cream.
Simple and understandable things require a lot of effort. Cleaning a room takes a lot of time; the health of household members, children, and pets depends on proper execution.
The article has been verified by the editors
Universal means
A universal liquid for cleaning any surface is Glorix (Glorix, Unilever). This domestically produced detergent is gentle on the skin, has an antibacterial effect, and does not form dense foam, which would take a long time to rinse off after cleaning. Due to the absence of foam, it is easily removed and does not leave streaks. In addition, Glorix has a delightful aroma, effectively cleans various surfaces, and removes old stains. In addition, it does not contain chlorine.
There are also other cleaning products available for cleaning floors. Their selection is quite wide. Such means include:
- Mr. Proper (Procter&Gamble, USA);
- Stork (Russia);
- Help (M-Plastika, Russian Federation);
- Dolphin Basic (Dolphin, Russian Federation);
- Progress (Russia);
- Karcher (Germany).
Although the listed products differ in price, they are equally effective in cleaning floors from dirt. Thanks to this, every housewife has the opportunity to choose a product that will suit her in terms of cost, quality and other equally important criteria. To understand which detergent is better, you should briefly consider each of them:
- Mr. Proper. This product not only perfectly cleans various floor coverings, but also effectively cleanses them of greasy stains. Users can select Mr. Pro for a specific floor type. In addition, judging by the reviews, it is very economical. The product lasts for a long time due to the fact that it forms abundant foam.
- Stork. Affordable floor cleaning liquid. Stork removes dirt of any origin and in addition to this, perfectly disinfects the floor. The product is more economical than Mr. Proper and equally effective on any surface. After use it leaves a pleasant non-synthetic aroma.
- Help. Suitable for absolutely any surface. Does not leave streaks after cleaning is completed. Help can also be used to clean bathroom and kitchen tiles. The product does not have a persistent chemical odor. Disadvantages include excessive foaming, the need for additional rinsing and inconvenient packaging.
- Dolphin Basic. Belongs to universal alkali-based products for cleaning various surfaces. It is safe and can be used daily. Dolphin Basic is also suitable for cleaning steel and rubber surfaces. An additional advantage of the product is its large packaging (9 liters).
- Progress. This domestically produced product is one of the top five in the ranking of floor care products. It is suitable for washing any surface, cleans perfectly and is easily washed off with water. Progress significantly saves the family budget, because it is universal. Also suitable for washing tiled walls.
- Karcher. German quality is known all over the world, and it is no stranger to detergents. Karcher can eliminate contaminants of various natures and persistence. The product contains no harmful components, and after cleaning is completed it leaves a pleasant, fresh smell. The versatility is expressed in the fact that Karcher can even wash dishes. It is sold in bottles of 10 liters or more.
For any floor surface, be it laminate, parquet or linoleum, you can choose floor cleaning products that are ideal for dealing with various stains.
If there has been a recent renovation...
If you want to refresh the interior of the rooms, but do not plan to renew the flooring, you need to protect it with old newspapers, film or rags to prevent the ingress of building materials. If it was not possible to keep the surface clean, the advice of experienced housewives will help you wash the floors after renovation.
Paint spots
If paint gets on the floor, you need to act immediately. A fresh stain is removed instantly and without leaving a trace. If the blot has already dried, proceed in four stages.
- Remove the top layer. Carefully, so as not to damage the floor covering, try to remove the top layer of paint. To do this, you can use a utility knife or sandpaper. If you are not sure that you can do this without damaging the floor, skip this step.
- Warm up the “blot”. Turn on the hair dryer and direct a stream of hot air onto the stain. Warm up the paint for three to five minutes to loosen its adhesion to the surface.
- Treat with oil. Soak a cotton pad or rag in sunflower or linseed oil and apply to the stain for ten minutes. After this, rub the surface vigorously with a rag to remove the paint.
- Wash. Wash the floor with warm water and dishwashing detergent.
If you want to use a professional solvent, first make sure that it will not damage the floor covering. Apply a small amount to an inconspicuous area in a corner or under furniture and monitor the reaction for a quarter of an hour.
Whitewash
Whitewashing is a real disaster for the floor. It is splashed across the surface during operation and transferred to the sole of the shoe. As a result, the beautiful and stylish coating is not visible at all under the layer of white coating. To clean whitewash from a floor, follow three steps.
- Soak the whitewash. Prepare a concentrated soap solution. For a liter of water you will need about half a glass of chips. Whisk the product into a foam, spread it over the floor and leave for half an hour to soak the whitewash.
- Pick up with a cloth. Use a damp cloth to remove the soaked whitewash.
- Wash it clean. Wash off any remaining whitewash from the floor. Change the water as often as possible, otherwise you will simply smear dirt on the floor.
If the floor is very dirty, divide the room into several sections. Wash them individually, starting from the farthest corner.
Video on the topic
The purpose of cleaning is not only to wash away dust and dirt, but also to “drive away” germs and bacteria. This is especially important for parents of babies who love to crawl on the floor. If you do not trust chemical cleaning compounds, traditional disinfectants will come to the rescue. Wash the floor with salt and water twice a month. Two tablespoons of the substance per bucket of liquid are enough to clean the floors with a mop or rag.
Washing linoleum
Linoleum is a floor covering that does not require delicate care. The best means for washing it are:
- Mellerud;
- Wa-Lin;
- HG;
- Sano Poliwix;
- PassionGold 1.5 l and others.
Mellerud perfectly cleans the protective coating of laminate flooring and protects it from dirt. Suitable for permanent use. To clean, you need to dissolve 1 cap of the product in a bucket of water.
Wa-Lin will perfectly clean the floor of iodine, brilliant green and stripes left by furniture and rubber soles. To properly wash linoleum, you need to dilute 20 ml of the product in 2 liters of water. On heavily soiled areas, apply the liquid for 4-5 minutes and then wipe off.
HG is intended for permanent use. For 3 liters of water you will need 250 ml of HG. The product does not need to be washed off the floor, as it is perfectly absorbed, does not allow slipping and does not make the coating sticky.
San Klin can be used not only for washing linoleum, but also for wiping tiles and wooden flooring. The product contains only natural substances, so it is harmless to the skin.
How to clean tough stains
Special narrow (point) action products will help in the fight against complex stains, but sometimes you can get by with simple, folk remedies. But it is important to remember the characteristics of the materials. For example, if a tile can be thoroughly rubbed with a brush (especially one with a rough surface), then this will not work with laminate and parquet.
Special equipment will help you deal with difficult stains.
In the last two cases you need:
- use brushes only with soft bristles;
- do not use aggressive cleaning agents;
- Do not rely too much on the universality of folk methods (they are designed for simple, unpretentious materials).
IMPORTANT! When buying a new product, test its effectiveness on an inconspicuous area of the floor so as not to spoil the coating.
Traditional methods
You can use laundry soap to clean linoleum.
200 grams of the product should be grated and mixed with a bucket of warm water. The floor should be treated with soapy liquid and then wiped with a cloth soaked in clean water. How else can you clean linoleum from dirt? Any household will have dishwashing liquid. You just need to add a small amount of it to a bucket of water and you can start cleaning. This solution perfectly removes pen and felt-tip pen marks from linoleum, and also easily removes greasy stains.
Linoleum flooring can be cleaned with gasoline. To do this, you need to soak a rag in it and rub the dirty places on the floor. This substance perfectly removes stubborn stains after repairs. He can even cope with traces of glue and paint. After cleaning, you need to wipe the floor with a wet cloth and ventilate the room.
What types of mops are there?
Cleaning floors is easier and faster with a mop. But a mop is a generic name for an entire class of cleaning equipment. They come in different shapes, with attachments/rags that are attached and wrung out in different ways. Rags can also be made of various materials. So there is plenty to choose from. And the right mop is the quality of cleaning, the time spent on cleaning.
Mops for cleaning floors come in different shapes. Which one to choose?
Forms of washing part and methods of spinning
Mops for washing floors can be with round and rectangular attachments (mops). Sometimes they are found with triangular bases (in the form of an isosceles triangle), to which a rag/nozzle is attached. It cannot be said that they are better, others are worse. Each type has its pros and cons. For example, rectangular ones are larger in area and require less movement for cleaning.
How quickly and easily you can clean the floor depends on the mop.
But try to wash them in corners or in narrow gaps behind furniture - you will suffer. Here, triangular or round ones are more convenient, or those called deck ones - a bundle of ropes or shreds. They are perfect for wiping behind furniture, in corners. But due to the small area, cleaning the entire floor with such a mop will take a lot of time. You can also collect liquid faster with microfiber nozzles.
Round and triangular mops
Round mops can have stationary attachments that screw onto the handle. In this case, the washing part is motionless, since it is a simple extension of the handle - these are deck mops. This is how sailors once scrubbed their decks.
The simplest and most inexpensive mops are deck mops with round screw-on (threaded) attachments.
Some (more expensive) round mops have a movable platform and attachments that are secured with Velcro or snaps. In this case, you can wet several nozzles, place them on the floor and change them as they become dirty. They can be removed if you hold the edge or pile (if it is long) with your foot and pull the handle up. They are installed by simply pressing (place the platform over the nozzle and press down slightly until it clicks). After acquiring some dexterity, it takes a matter of seconds to change. In this case, your hands do not get dirty. After cleaning, all used attachments can be washed in the washing machine.
When cleaning with round and triangular mops with replaceable attachments, they can be wrung out not with your hands, but with the help of a special device. They can be of several types:
- Mechanical (for deck mops). These are nets of different shapes that are attached to the bucket:
- Just a mesh into which the washing part is lowered. The water is squeezed out depending on the force of pressure - you apply this force. This is how you control the importance of the rag.
You can squeeze out water using a mesh attached to a bucket.
Press mesh. In this case, the walls of the mesh are made in such a way that when pressed they compress, which requires less effort to remove excess moisture. In particular, this is how the Vielda mop and some of its analogues are made. Everything would be nice, but a mop + bucket set costs a little less than a washing vacuum cleaner.
Rotating device on a bucket
The quality of washing does not depend too much on the method of spinning, but the amount of effort expended and the time it takes to wash the floor depend on it.
Laminate floor care
Laminate is a floor covering that requires delicate care. To wash it, use products intended exclusively for it:
- Mellured Bio is a laminate care liquid that has water-repellent properties. It will be especially useful after the renovation is completed.
- Emsal Laminate is an expensive premium product. The manufacturer guarantees absolute absence of streaks. Very beneficial to use.
- Bugs Laminate is an excellent product for caring for laminate flooring; it does not leave streaks due to the presence of linseed oil in the composition. Perfectly polishes the surface and leaves a glossy effect on it.
When cleaning laminate flooring, it is recommended to consult with an experienced specialist, as some products can harm the coating.
When to wash - morning or evening
It is interesting that old Slavic traditions and signs, like Feng Shui, endow the process of washing floors with a certain symbolism. For example, it is believed that one should not clean in the evening, otherwise the housewife will invite evil spirits into the house. And vice versa, if you clear the room of debris and dust during daylight hours, a woman will allow well-being, prosperity, and positive energy into her home. They also say that pregnant women should not wash the floor, otherwise they may cause premature birth.
But real life dictates its own conditions. Women usually work during the day, so household chores are left for the evening. And future mothers, in order not to get tired, know how to clean the floors with a mop. Moreover, they use “smart” equipment that even “twists” itself. “Helpers” with telescopic handles (rope, microfiber, sponge) have made the life of the modern housewife much easier.
For tiles
You can use ammonia to care for tiles.
It can be used at home for both floors and walls. To carry out high-quality wet cleaning, you need to dilute 1 tablespoon of ammonia in 1 liter of water. Vinegar is also used for tiled floors. To prepare liquid for cleaning floor surfaces, you need 2 tbsp. l. add this product to 2 liters of water.
The vinegar solution perfectly disinfects the room, eliminates fungus and destroys dirt even on rough surfaces.
Master Class. Cleaning tile joints.
Step 1. If the dirt on the tile joint is slight, you can use a simple eraser (pink or white). Run an eraser along the seam to remove the stain.
Eraser
Step 2. You can also use baking soda - it can deal with most stains. First, mix baking soda with water to make a paste.
Make a paste of baking soda and water
Apply it to the desired area of the seam using an unnecessary toothbrush. Rub the paste thoroughly into the seam.
The paste is applied with a toothbrush
Remove the paste and rinse off any remaining residue with warm, clean water.
Once everything is dry, rinse the seam with warm water.
If the stain is serious, wait a couple of minutes for the product to penetrate into it, and only then start scrubbing.
Let the paste sit on the stain for a few minutes.
Step 3: For tougher stains, use bleach. But don't forget to use rubber gloves to protect your hands.
Put on a pair of rubber gloves
For white grout, dilute bleach with water (3:1). As for colored seams, you should not use bleach for them, as they may become discolored.
Bleach is diluted in water
Clean the seam with the resulting product; you can use the same toothbrush. Try not to let it get on the tiles.
Cleaning the tile joint
After cleaning the grout, rinse it with warm water to remove any traces of bleach.
Rinse the floor with warm water to remove all traces of bleach.
Once the floor is dry, you can seal the joint with sealant to prevent dirt from being absorbed.
After the floor is completely dry, carefully apply sealant to the seam
Universal method
Salt is suitable for all types of coating. It is customary in villages to wash floors with salt. To clean, you need to dissolve 100 g of the product in a bucket of warm water. After this, you should start cleaning.
The salt solution makes wood floors shine and protects tile surfaces from dirt.
What means to wash the floors is up to each housewife to decide for herself. Fortunately, today there is a huge selection of products for caring for different floor surfaces, so wet cleaning is not a problem for the modern woman.
Useful tips
Floor cleaning will be quick and effective if you follow the recommendations:
- the floor will shine if you wipe it with a vinegar solution after washing;
- washing with dirty water leads to streaks, so you need to change it as it gets dirty;
- washing will take less time if you use detergents;
- make sure that all substances are completely dissolved in water, otherwise the coating may be damaged;
- When choosing detergents, consider the type of floor.
Washing the floor is one of the usual chores that you cannot do without in everyday life. However, the task can be made easier if you organize the cleaning correctly. Using effective detergents allows you to save time and effort and spend it on more important things.
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