Flooring experts share their new year deep cleaning tips

Busy lifestyles can reflect on our floors. From muddy paws and dust to general wear and tear, our carpets can go through a lot over time. Is there a way to give our carpets the deep cleaning they deserve this January? 

Fortunately, experts at leading flooring retailer Tapi have revealed their top home carpet and smooth floor cleaning hacks to boost the longevity of your flooring and help give it a new lease of life this 2023. 

So, to help tackle your flooring woes, here are the top five tips from Brand and Communications Director at Tapi, Johanna Constantinou, to keep your carpet and smooth floors looking as good as new.

1. Start with a clean vacuum 

Before any deep clean, it’s best practice to start with a clean vacuum as a dirty bag or filter can cut your vacuum’s suction power in half. If your vacuum is bagless, ensure you replace or wash the filter every three months to help prolong the life of your appliance. 

For vacuum bags, replace them when they’re three-quarters full so your vacuum will always work as best as possible to protect high-traffic areas of your house that require the most attention.

2. Pay attention to your carpet needs

As time passes, even the fluffiest carpets can lose their bounce. Help breathe life back into them by a simple refresh with bicarbonate of soda and vinegar solution. It also takes away any lingering smells, too. 

Start by spreading bicarbonate of soda over your carpet and work it into the fibres with a stiff brush, before letting it sit overnight. Then, vacuum the baking soda up in the morning and then fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and cold water. 

Simply spray the solution onto the carpet and work with a stiff brush, and your carpet will be as good as new!

3. Remove stains immediately 

Spilt something on your carpet? It’s important to act fast on any stains you make. For water soluble stains, such as drinks or mud, blot away the mark with a solution of two pints of water with a quarter of a teaspoon of white vinegar. Start with a clean cloth and gently press the stain, moving from the outside to the inside. Never rub the stain as this causes it to move into the carpet fibres and you risk permanent damage. 

For tough stains like blood, coffee and wine, use either a spoonful of ammonia mixed with a pint of water, or use an ammonia-based cleaning product, to get rid of these tougher stains. 

With any stain, it’s a good idea to test your cleaning product on an unseen area of your carpet before use to make sure it won’t damage or discolour the material. And always avoid using hot water as this can make stains worse!

4. Rethink your smooth floor cleaning routine

The best way to clean a smooth floor is by using a microfibre dust mop as their smaller strands ensure a smarter and faster clean that gets into all the nooks and crannies that a cotton mop can’t.

You should also avoid the use of steam cleaners as this can damage wood and wood-effect floors, with the potential to cause discolouring and alter the finish by warping or cracking.

Always ensure you mop with caution and vacuum on a regular basis to ensure the finish is as flawless and dirt free as possible.

5. Don’t flood your floor 

Most smooth flooring can be efficiently cleaned with a dry mop and concentrated cleaning solution purchased from any supermarket. With an exception for floors with an oiled finish, this method is ideally repeated weekly for treating any dirt or loose debris. 

There is also no need to use multiple cleaners and finishing products as you don’t want to risk soaking your floors with a wet mop because excess moisture can seep through the surface and can cause lifting and warping.

To rid more stubborn marks, simply wring out a damp cloth as much as possible before gently tackling the area. 

Further tips on caring for your floors can be found here: https://www.tapi.co.uk/the-ideas-hub/care-guides 

Credit for article to https://www.tapi.co.uk/