No matter what material you choose, your floors are sure to take a beating over the years. Daily foot traffic, spills, pets, furniture, everything adds up fast. The good news is with a proper care routine, you can get more out of your flooring for years to come.
At our Flooring warehouse in Houston, we want homeowners to love their floors for years to come, not fail within a couple of years because they don’t take care of them. That’s why we put together a guide that tells you how to take care of every flooring material.
Hardwood Flooring
While durable, hardwood flooring in Houston requires regular maintenance to look its best. The biggest threats? Moisture and grit can cause the most damage, but only if you let them. Water can warp the boards and fine debris turns into sandpaper underfoot as time passes. Here are some tips:
- Sweep or dry-mop your floors daily in the busiest areas of your home to remove dirt and debris
- Clean using a hardwood-specific cleaner, as a wet mop or steam cleaner can damage your floors
- Wipe up spills to prevent moisture from penetrating the wood
- Use felt pads under furniture legs to prevent scratches
- Maintain indoor humidity levels of 35-55% to avoid warping and gaps
If you choose solid site-finished hardwood flooring, you can refinish the planks every 7-10 years. This lets you sand away surface damage, refresh the stain color and get up to a century of use.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
In Houston, Luxury Vinyl Planks are a popular flooring choice because it’s easy to take care of. That’s because the surface is waterproof and scratch-resistant, but that doesn’t mean you can neglect your flooring. Here’s our advice to keep it in top shape:
- Sweep or vacuum regularly with a soft-bristle attachment, no beater bars
- Damp mop using a vinyl-safe cleaner
- Stay away from abrasive scrubbers or harsh chemical cleaners that will dull the surface
- Use doormats at entryways to keep dirt and grit from being tracked into your home
- Place protective pads under heavy furniture to keep indentations from forming over time
LVP is called waterproof, but no floor is 100% waterproof. While it can take splashes and spills without issue, leaving standing water will let moisture seep into the seams and damage the subfloor. Wipe up large spills right away.
Tile Flooring
Tile flooring is fairly easy to maintain, but it’s the grout that you have to worry about. Grout is porous so it does absorb dirt and moisture, causing staining over time without proper care. Follow our cleaning advice:
- Sweep or vacuum on a regular basis to prevent grit from scratching the tile surface
- Mop with a pH-neutral cleaner to protect the grout or glazing
- Seal grout lines every 1-2 years to avoid absorbing stains
- Fix cracked or chipped tiles right away to keep moisture from penetrating the subfloor
- Don’t use vinegar or acidic cleaners, especially on natural stone tile
Neglecting your tile’s grout can cause issues down the line. However, clean, sealed grout will help your floors last that much longer.
Carpet
Houston Carpets are comfortable and quiet underfoot, but unfortunately, it’s more likely to trap dust, allergens and debris compared to hard surface flooring. Regular vacuuming is essential so take these tips into account:
- Vacuum busy areas twice per week and the full carpet weekly
- Blot spills right away rather than rubbing them to stop the stain from getting deeper into the fibers
- Schedule a professional deep clean every 12-18 months
- Use entry mats to reduce the volume of dirt brought in from outside
- Rotate area rugs for even wear across the surface
Modern carpets are stain-resistant, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to clean them. With proper care, carpet will hold its shape over time.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring looks like hardwood, but doesn’t require as much maintenance. It’s important to remember that this flooring is water-resistant. This means the surface layer can be damaged by excess moisture so keeping it dry even when cleaning matters. Here’s how to take care of it:
- Sweep or vacuum regularly using a soft attachment because stiff bristles may scratch
- Clean using a laminate-specific cleaner and a slightly damp mop
- Never steam mop or leave standing water on the surface
- Wipe up spills right away as water can penetrate the seams and damage the subfloor
- Use felt pads under furniture and avoid dragging heavy items across the floor
You can’t refinish laminate flooring like you can with hardwood. That’s why preventing surface damage is essential.
The Simplest Rule for Any Floor
Every flooring material has a unique maintenance routine, but light cleaning beats occasional deep cleans every time. Regular sweeping, prompt spill cleanup and the right cleaning products will help your flooring last longer than you’d expect. At Floor Inspirations, we want you to take care of your floors so you can continue to love them for years to come. That’s why we’re here to provide the maintenance before and after installation day.
Wondering which floors are best for you or noticing signs of wear? Visit our Houston showroom or contact us to book an in-home consultation today!
