Ultimate Cleaning Guide

Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum!

This is the most important step to carpet care. For your most common carpets, we recommend a vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush or beater bar. Make sure your beater bar is set at the correct height, just at the top of the carpet. 

Vacuum as needed, everyone's home traffic is different

If it feels like you are pulling through sand, your beater bar is set too low!

While many carpets are stain resistant, no carpet is completely stain proof

Accidents Happen, follow these steps to remove the stain!

Scrape: Remove as much of the solid mess as possible.

Absorb: Blot repeatedly to absorb the stain quickly.

Blot: Never rub or scrub your carpet abrasively, always blot! 

Work from the outer edge in.

Rinse: Always follow up with water to remove cleaning

product residue.

Pressure: Place several layers of paper towels or cloth over

the spot and add pressure to pull the stain up.

DEEP CLEAN

Schedule hot water extraction every 18-24 months or more depending on the traffic in your home. Remember to keep the receipt! 

What to avoid?

DO NOT SELF SHAMPOO YOUR CARPET THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY AND COULD LEAVE RESIDUE LEADING TO RE-SOILING.

Certain products found in most homes can cause damage to your carpet. The following can have strong chemicals which discolor or dissolve carpet fibers. 

Bleaches | Tile Cleaners | Mildew Removers | Oven Cleaners  | Drain Openers | Pesticides | Some Plant Foods | Hygienic Products containing Benzoyl Peroxide 

 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. 

 Tile is something that must be maintained in a specific manner, follow these guidelines and your tile will sparkle!

*For tough grime, use a cleaning brush and warm water and vinegar and start scrubbing and watch the grime disappear!*

Routine cleaning is simply sweeping and damp mopping with clean water and neutral cleaner formulated for glazed tile. Remember to change the mop water frequently, depending on how soiled the tile is, you should use a heavy-duty neutral cleaner and you may have to scrub depending on the texture of the tile.  

Routine cleaning - With a damp cloth or sponge, using a neutral cleaner meant for glazed tile is acceptable as long as you rinse any residue with clean water. In the shower, you will need to clean more frequently in order to remove soap scum, body oils, and hard water deposit buildup. In the shower, you will spray your neutral glazed tile cleaner, let it sit for 3-5 minutes, then rinse. If your tile has been neglected for a long period of time, a solution of heavy-duty neutral cleaner for glazed tile is recommended

Routine cleaning will be wiping with a damp cloth or sponge. Using a neutral cleaner meant for glazed tile is acceptable as long as you rinse any residue with clean water. In the shower, you will need to clean more frequently in order to remove soap scum, body oils and hard water deposit buildup. In the shower you will spray your neutral glazed tile cleaner, let it sit for 3-5 minutes, then rinse. If your tile has been neglected for a long period of time, a solution of heavy duty neutral cleaner for glazed tile is recommended

Using a soft clean cloth with warm water or a non-abrasive cleaner formulated for glass. Do not use any cleaners with abrasive agents as these can scratch the tile.

Unglazed mosaic, porcelain, or quarry tile cleaning is similar to glazed, it should be dust swept and damp mopped with clean water and mild neutral cleaner formulated for tile. If you have heavy soiling, you will need to use the same cleaner and scrub the surface depending on the texture. As unglazed quarry tile ages, a patina forms on the surface and creates a soft shine and keeps the floors looking fresh longer.