We often forget how important it is to have a well-maintained and clean floor. Our floors experience tons of traffic, not just from our feet but from the nails or claws of our pets, the spilled crumbs or liquids in the kitchen, the heavy furniture, and so much more.

Taking good care of your flooring is one of the best ways to extend its lifespan. You could get by without having to replace your flooring for years (and in some cases, even decades), simply by providing proper upkeep. Floor Country is Winnipeg’s floor store of choice for hardwood, laminate, cork, tile, vinyl, and carpet, so we know a lot about helping you get the most out of your flooring. Try these tips to help your floor last for years.

Carpet

Of course, vacuuming is the obvious choice for cleaning the carpets — you should vacuum at least once a week, or consider getting a Roomba to provide daily cleanings. But there are actually some other things to keep in mind that can help your carpets last for a longer time. Using a doormat and taking off shoes are both great ways to stop tracking in sand, dirt, and other debris.

Our floor store also recommends getting your carpet professionally cleaned once a year. You should also ask your carpet cleaners if they use environmentally safe products, and also if they provide raking and grooming afterwards — since carpet tends to get impacted, this can “fluff” it up and have it looking as good as new.

Hardwood

Every week, you should go over your hardwood floors with a microfiber dust mop. You shouldn’t use water, vinegar, or soap-based cleaners with hardwood, but instead, look into a wood-specific cleaning solution. You probably won’t need to mop them down every month (although if the hardwood floors are in a restaurant or a place with lots of foot traffic, that’s a different story), just aim for four to six times a year.

Refinishing hardwood is a bit tricky — you don’t want to do this too often, as it can strip away some of the grain that gives hardwood floor its unique and rich look. Feel free to ask for recommendations from our floor store! You’ll likely have to refinish your hardwood floor at some point, but it definitely doesn’t need to happen as often as people tend to think.

Laminate

Laminate sometimes comes with a warranty because it’s a super durable floor type and is pretty much guaranteed to last a long time. That being said, you can expand your laminate’s lifespan by taking good care of it.

Soap, water, detergent, or really any kind of liquid cleaners are not friends of laminate. Try to stick with damp cloths for specific spots, otherwise, use a broom and occasionally vacuum (using a hard floor attachment to protect the floor) to keep it clean. Since laminate has an image printed over the composite material, you don’t want to scratch laminate. Continuing to use entryway mats and keeping shoes off the floor can help avoid bringing in dirt, sand, or other materials that can cause scratches.

In our next blog, we’ll cover even more ways that you can ensure your floor stays well-maintained and lasts for a long time. While the immediate reaction to cleaning usually involves some kind of soapy and/or wet wipe, this can actually cause more harm than good. By knowing how to treat your floors, you’ll be able to have them for longer (and have them looking good, too!).

In the meantime, feel free to stop by our Winnipeg floor store with any other flooring or installation questions, or if you’re choosing materials for your next remodel or home build. Floor Country would be more than happy to help — visit us today!