Cleaning Guide

 Vacuum Frequently to Extend the Life of Your Carpet

The most important step in caring for your carpet is vacuuming it thoroughly and frequently.

Frequent vacuuming stops soil from working its way below the surface of the carpet pile where it is far more difficult to remove and can damage the carpet fibers. Consider Shaw Floors’ recommendations on how to best vacuum your carpet:

• Invest in a quality vacuum certified through the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval/Green Label Vacuum Cleaner Program
• For light traffic areas - vacuum the carpet traffic lanes twice weekly and the entire area once weekly
• For heavy traffic areas - vacuum the carpet traffic lanes daily and the entire area twice weekly
• For shag, wool and wool-blend styles, suction-only vacuum or a vacuum with an adjustable brush lifted away from the carpet so it does not agitate the pile
• For all other carpet styles, use a vacuum with a rotating brush or combination beater/brush bar that agitates the carpet pile and mechanically loosens soil. Test the beater/brush bar in an inconspicuous location before regular use to make sure it doesn't produce excessive fuzzing.

For complete details on how to properly vacuum your carpet, refer to the Shaw Floors Care and Maintenance brochure.

 Low Maintenance Flooring

Vinyl flooring is easy to maintain, making it perfect for families and pets.

Routine Cleaning

Sweep or vacuum regularly and do not use the beater bar on your vacuum.

Clean your floor occasionally with a spray mop with Armstrong Once 'n' Done or a "NO RINSE" cleaner or simply water and vinegar. Ditch the water bucket and mop! Spray your floor with the cleaner and wipe clean with a microfiber head system.

NEVER USE A STEAM MOP this will damage the protective layer of your flooring.

Floor Protection Tips

Use floor protectors on furniture to reduce indentation. The heavier the item, the wider the floor protector needed.

choose colorfast woven rugs instead, carpet can be bound and you can use a carpet pad underneath.

Or choose Floorigami! A peel and stick carpet plank

We discourage the use of rubber-backed, polypropylene rugs, or latex-backed mats as they can cause discoloration of the floor.   

Brands we love (Libman/Swiffer/ We do sell Armstrong Once 'n' Done)

Hardwood flooring is a little more maintenance, but so worth it to make your hardwood floors look even more radiant. 

Routine Cleaning-Weekly

Remove dust and debris with a dry microfiber dusting pad, vacuum, or broom. (Remember to turn the beater bar off on your vacuum!)

Clean tough spots with a damp rag by hand, if you have something stuck on the hardwood, for example, some stuck on gum, use a plastic spatula and gently wiggle it under the debris until it comes off.

Spray the cleaning solution across the area you are about to clean, then mop with the microfiber cleaning pad. For large areas, rinse and clean or swap out to a clean pad, as it becomes dirty.

Rinse the cleaning pad with warm soapy water or throw it in the washing machine. 

(always make sure there is no soap residue on your cleaning pad)

NEVER USE steam mops, soap, multi-purpose cleaners, beater bars on the vacuum, or the wrong cleaner on your hardwood floors. This could ruin your protective top layer, causing fading, discoloration, and further damage to the hardwood.

WHEN TO CLEAN

Daily/Weekly - High traffic areas like kitchens, hallways, entryways, and living areas need the most attention.

Right Away - Wipe up spills with a rag or paper towels. Stains & grime will get harder to clean the longer you wait. (We have found that keeping a designated "floor rag" is very helpful.)

As Needed - Low traffic areas can be cleaned as you see dirt and dust.

It's best to keep floor mats at entryways to lessen the amount of liquid damage.

Use floor protectors on furniture to reduce indentation. The heavier the item, the wider the floor protector needed. 

Use rugs at entryways.

This is the only time we will encourage you to use a steam cleaner/steam mop! Steam cleaner's are a great way to easily clean your shower tile or tiled areas, tile can handle the heat from a steam mop and it gets rid of all that dirt, grime, bacteria and residue build up, so steam away! (We have photo's of steam cleaner's we recommend!)

If you would rather have a cleaning solution/spray, we have a list of products our grout company "Custom" recommends for their customers, click on the button "Cleaning Solution Products".

-Glazed tile products should be cleaned routinely with an all-purpose, low VOC, household or commercial cleaner. 

-Unglazed tile should be cleaned routinely with concentrated tile cleaners with a neutral pH for safe regular use.  

-Regular dust mopping, sweeping, or vacuuming is recommended prior to cleaning with liquid products.  

Preventative Care

-Use felt or rubber protective pads under furniture to prevent scratching tile surfaces - Place good quality floor mats in high traffic locations and areas that are susceptible to moisture (i.e. near entrance / exit ways) 

What to Avoid

-Do not use cleaning wax, oil based cleaners, ammonia, sealants or products containing acid or bleach as part of routine maintenance.

-Abrasive cleaning products such as scouring pads or steel wool pads .

 *Disclaimer* We strongly recommend the use of safety glasses, respirators (masks) and gloves in handling any materials that contain chemicals.