The following tips are ways to lengthen the life of your flooring. Cleaning, maintaining, and getting out spots and spills will keep your flooring looking better, longer. For specific floor cleaning products, come into our store. We carry a number of products that will prevent damage to your new floors.

Ceramic Tile

• Sweep, vacuum and mop regularly to minimize abrasive soils.
• Rinse the cleaning solution and leave no residue. Change wash water and rinse water often to prevent dullness due to water residue. Dry buff-polish tile with a clean, dry cloth or pad.
• Glossy floor finishes are not suitable for glazed floor tile.
• For unglazed tiles, use soft bristle brushes or scrubbing pads with an effective cleaner such as Masterpiece Stone Soap.

Laminates

• Place a doormat near outside doors to collect dirt and moisture. Place felt under furniture legs for protection.
• For routine cleaning, simply vacuum and damp mop.
• For heavier cleaning, use a non-abrasive household cleaner diluted in water or a cleaner formulated for prefinished hardwood floors. Use a damp white cloth to avoid excessive water.
• Do not wax, oil or polish your laminate flooring.
• Never use a scouring powder, steel wool or any abrasive cleaners.
• Never sand, wax or lacquer your laminate flooring.

Vinyl

• After installation, do not walk over "seam sealing" for 24 hours. This will ensure a proper seam bond.
• Do not scrub or wash your floor for five days after installation.
• Use a damp sponge to wipe off the vinyl manufacturers logo on the floor.
• Move heavy furniture carefully by laying a plywood panel on the floor and walking the item across it.
• Do not use rolling casters as they damage the floor.
• Use doormats at entrances to prevent dirt.
• Check the soles of footwear such as high heels as the marks they make can be difficult to remove.
• Avoid extreme exposure to the sun through sliding glass doors by drawing your shades during periods of peak sun exposure.
• Remove loose dirt by sweeping or vacuuming regularly. Do not use the beater bar on your vacuum.
• Blot spills with a paper towel and then wipe with a clean, white dampened cloth.
• Wash your floor using the recommended cleaner with a sponge mop. After loosening the soil, mop up thoroughly to avoid the floor becoming sticky.
• Do not use dish detergents or vinegar and water, abrasive cleaners and cleaners containing solvent as they will leave a dull film on your floor.
• After cleaning, a simple dry buffing should restore normal luster.

Stain Removal Tips for Vinyl

Linoleum

• After installation, sweep or vacuum thoroughly.
• After 2-3 days, rinse with a clean, damp mop using a neutral detergent solution or one tablespoon of vinegar per gallon of water. Don't flood the floor or use too much water.
• After cleaning the floor, apply two (2) thin, even coats of a high-quality floor polish. Allow polish to dry between coats (usually between 30-40 minutes).
• Never apply floor wax, furniture polish or silicone products.

Cork

• For sealed cork tiles, use a non-slip wax polish and buff clean.
• For non-sealed tiles, sweep, vacuum or clean with a damp mop using a liquid floor cleaner.
• Ideally cork tiles should be sealed with at least two coats of polyurethane varnish.
• To repair, use a coarse grade sand paper wrapped around a block to remove the damaged area. Then use a fine grade sand paper to smooth the area. Once the area has been cleared of dust, re-seal with a floor sealer.

Hardwood

• Never clean with water. Do not use soaps, detergents, "oil soaps" or maintenance products intended for other flooring surfaces.
• To prevent dirt and moisture being tracked onto your floor, add an area rug. Don't use rubber, foam back, or plastic mats as they discolour the floor. Instead, use an approved cushion for the rug to prevent slippage.
• Use outdoor mats at the entrances of exterior doors to keep dirt and moisture from being tracked in.
• Sweep or vacuum as often as required to remove loose dirt.
• Wipe up spills immediately. Remove dried spills with a cloth or scrub pad dampened with the hardwood manufacturer's cleaner.
• When moving furniture, slip a blanket or carpet, face down, under it and slide carefully. This will avoid scratching and gouging. Place floor protectors under the feet of furniture to avoid scratching.
• Never wax a polyurethane finished floor. Renew by recoating with a good quality, non-yellowing Polyurethane finish.
• Avoid walking on your hardwood floor in high heel shoes. They will cause denting and related damage to your hardwood floor.

Area Rugs

• Rotate your rug every year so it wears evenly and remove dry dirt to prevent fibre wear.
• Keep your rug away from direct sunlight to avoid colour fade and fibre wear.
• On cut pile rugs, use a vacuum with a rotating beater bar to loosen dirt. On loop pile rugs, use a vacuum with suction to avoid damaging the loops.
• Use plastic guards under furniture legs, and periodically move the furniture around to change the pressure points on your rug.
• Repair fringes and edges immediately to stop knots from unraveling.
• Do not have your rug steam cleaned. Take it to a specialist where the rug will be beaten to remove dirt, washed with mild shampoo and water, gently passed through a wringer, and hung in a temperature controlled room for fast drying.
• For storage, roll the rug and consider adding mothballs. Avoid humid basements where moths, silverfish, and carpet beetles can destroy your rug.

Carpet

• Vacuum often and use mats at all entrances.
• Protect carpet from sunlight by using blinds, shades or other window treatments.
• Use furniture coasters. When vacuuming, move furniture slightly to prevent excessive crushing of the pile.
• Use protective mats under chairs or furniture with rollers.
• Blot up a spill as soon as it occurs.
• Rearranging furniture periodically allows carpet to wear evenly.
• Get carpet professionally cleaned to keep carpet fresher, brighter and newer looking longer. Professionals can replace or repair tufts, and repair cigarette burns.
• To protect stain resistance, do not use disinfectants (e.g. Lysol*), insecticides, or fungicides (e.g. Sylguard*).
• The pH (relative acidity or alkalinity) of the detergent should not be above 10. A very alkaline detergent cleans well, but it can also degrade the stain resistance of the carpet.
• Aerosol foam cleaners and rotary brushes are not recommended.
• PLEASE NOTE: The use of any topical treatment other than those recommended by the carpet manufacturer VOIDS your stain warranty.

Stain Removal

A.

1. Blot excess stain or liquid
2. Soak with lukewarm water for one minute and blot with sponge or paper towel.
3. Repeat until no stain is evident on towel or sponge.
4. If stain persists, use Spray 'N' Wash and press into stained area with fingers. Blot excess, rinse with clear lukewarm water to remove detergent and blot dry.
5. If the stain persists, add water again; fold paper toweling and place over stain with weight. Check toweling every five minutes, or until blotter is stain free (this procedure may need to be repeated with deep stains).
6. Brush up pile and allow to dry before walking on carpet.

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B.

1. Blot excess stain or liquid.
2. Soak with lukewarm water one minute and blot.
3. Apply hydrogen peroxide, immediately follow with household ammonia and blot.
4. Rinse with hot water and blot.
5. If stain persists, use Spray 'N' Wash and press into stained area with fingers. Blot excess, rinse with clear lukewarm water to remove detergent and blot dry.
6. Add water again; fold paper toweling and place over stain with weight. Check toweling every five minutes, or until blotter is stain free (this procedure may need to be repeated with deep stains).
7. Brush up pile and allow to dry before walking on carpet.

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C.

1. Blot or scrape off excess stain or liquid.
2. Vacuum particles and soften stain with alcohol or dry cleaning solvent.
3. Blot and brush off particles.
4. Apply alcohol or dry cleaning solvent and blot immediately.
5. If stain persists, use Spray 'N' Wash and press into stained area with fingers. Blot excess, rinse with clear lukewarm water to remove detergent and blot dry.
6. Add water again; fold paper toweling and place over stain with weight. Check toweling every five minutes, or until blotter is stain free (this procedure may need to be repeated with deep stains).
7. Brush up pile and allow to dry before walking on carpet.

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D

1. Blot excess stain or liquid.
2. Wet stain with alcohol and dry cleaning solvent and blot dry immediately. Repeat two times.
3. If stain persists, use Spray 'N' Wash and press into stained area with fingers. Blot excess, rinse with clear lukewarm water to remove detergent and blot dry.
4. Add water again; fold paper toweling and place over stain with weight. Check toweling every five minutes, or until blotter is stain free (this procedure may need to be repeated with deep stains).
5. Brush up pile and allow to dry before walking on carpet.

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E.

1. Blot to remove excess stain or liquid.
2. Rinse with clear, lukewarm water and blot dry.
3. If cleaning method fails to remove stain, have affected area replaced (plugged) by professionals.

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F.

1. Allow area to dry and vacuum excess.
2. Soak with lukewarm water for one minute with sponge or paper towel. Repeat until no stain is evident on towel or sponge.
3. If stain persists, use Spray 'N' Wash and press into stained area with fingers. Blot excess, rinse with clear lukewarm water to remove detergent and blot dry.
4. Add water again; fold paper toweling and place over stain with weight. Check toweling every five minutes, or until blotter is stain free (this procedure may need to be repeated with deep stains).
5. Brush up pile and allow to dry before walking on carpet.

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G.

1. Blot excess.
2. Apply nail polish remover and blot immediately. Repeat until no stain is evident on blotter.
3. Brush pile and allow to dry before walking on carpet.

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H.

1. Scrape off excess.
2. Soften stain with vinegar and blot with lukewarm water. Repeat until no stain is evident on blotter.
3. If stain persists, use Spray 'N' Wash and press into stained area with fingers. Blot excess, rinse with clear lukewarm water to remove detergent and blot dry.
4. Add water again; fold paper toweling and place over stain with weight. Check toweling every five minutes, or until blotter is stain free (this procedure may need to be repeated with deep stains).
5. Brush up pile and allow to dry before walking on carpet.

Back to Stain Removal List