Monday, July 7, 2014

Floor & Carpet Care Products and Floor Maintenance Equipment - Buyer Mistakes

An investment in a hard floor covering or carpet floor covering will last longer with proper care and maintenance. Most buyers understand this fact. However, good intentions regarding floor and carpet care are sometimes not enough. This article lists the common mistakes people make when purchasing floor covering, floor care products and floor maintenance equipment.
Common mistakes for all floor covering types:
  • Allowing dust/dirt to sit on the floor for longer than a few days - Regular sweeping, dust mopping or vacuuming the floor is the best way to keep the floor looking new. Do not believe a sales person who says that a floor covering is maintenance free. Walking over a dirty floor will scratch/dull the surface of a hard floor covering. Likewise, traffic over a dirty carpet will force the dirt to become embedded deeper, and therefore shampooing or early replacement of the carpet will be necessary.
  • Using the same cleaning products and equipment for all floor surfaces - "One size does not fit all" when it comes to cleaning floors. Many people prefer to keep it simple when purchasing cleaning products and cleaning equipment. Their thinking is that general purpose cleaners and equipment should work on all floors if used regularly. This can be a big mistake. A cleaning process that works for one floor surface may ruin another floor surface.
  • Forgetting the 70% rule - Seventy percent or more of the dirt that enters the interior space comes from the outdoors. Extensive use of entrance matting is highly recommended to extend the life of floor surfaces and reduce the floor maintenance effort.
Common mistakes for hard floor covering:
  • Choosing high gloss finishes because they are so beautiful - The real high gloss finish as seen in up-scale shopping malls requires burnishing equipment to maintain the high gloss. High speed burnishing is a job for the experienced professional only. Severe floor damage can be caused by these burnishing machines in seconds if the machine is improperly used.
  • Using water to clean because it is safe for any hard floor surface - In general this is true, but people need to be very careful with water on hardwood floors. Water is the worst enemy of a hardwood floor. The best rule to follow is to consult the owner's manual for the recommended cleaning process.
  • Using oil soap to clean hardwood floors - Many people who purchase older homes with old hardwood floors report that the use of Murphy's oil soap is the only way to bring back the floors luster. This is true because the oil soap helps to clean dirt out of the wood. However, oil soap should never be used on a new hardwood floor that has been properly finished. In this case, a product specifically designed to clean the finish not the wood should be used.
Common mistakes for carpeted floor covering:
  • Choosing a synthetic carpet - Olefin (also referred to as polypropylene, polyethylene or polyolefin) is a synthetic material that soils quickly and can make carpet maintenance more difficult regardless of the choice of cleaning product or maintenance equipment.
  • Using wrong maintenance equipment - A vacuum cleaner can do a great job removing dust and allergens from the carpet to minimize health risks. However, fine particles of dust and allergens can be exhausted back into the room. The best solution is the central vacuum system that deposits the vacuumed material outside of the living interior. The next best solution is to use a vacuum cleaner with a built-in hepa filter. The hepa filter needs to be positioned downstream of the motor to ensure the exhaust is emitting allergen-free air.
  • Installing carpet floor covering in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc. - These areas are high traffic areas where moisture is frequently present. Wet carpet can form an unhealthy environment because mildew and mold may not be easily removed.
Finally, do not jump too quickly into replacing carpet with a hard floor for easier maintenance. Most people agree that it takes less time to clean hard floor coverings. However, most people also agree that more dust/dirt will be seen on hard floors within hours after cleaning while carpet will look clean longer. While this may be acceptable for some people who like to dust mop daily, many people may begin to feel like a slave to their floor because of the daily chore.



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