Look no further than the cleaning aisle of your grocery store for proof of the following fact: Most of us don’t like cleaning floors. There are robot vacuums and spray mops with disposable pads–everything and anything to make this household chore easier. 

But when it comes to getting a professional-level clean, you’ll need to get your hands dirty. A spray mop may be fine for wiping up the kitchen floor after you cook every night, but before your next dinner party, you’ll want to get out a proper mop. 

Not every surface can or should be cleaned the same way, so we’ll provide floor cleaning tips and tricks for whatever materials you have in your home. Whether you need to clean wood, carpet, or tile, we’ve got you covered.

How to clean different types of floors 

1. Tile floors 

This first step may not be intuitive, but break out the vacuum cleaner if you want to know how to clean floor tiles well. Yes, tile should be vacuumed a few times a week to pick up grime and particles that can scratch the surface. This process is known as “dry cleaning.”

When it comes time, however, for a deeper clean, you will need to wet the tile’s surface. First, prepare a mixture of dish soap and hot water in a large bucket. For the fans of natural disinfectants out there who want to know how to clean a floor with vinegar, the answer is simple: substitute the dishwashing liquid (or floor cleaning solution) for a few splashes of white vinegar. Cleaning grout is it’s own task, and maybe one for spring cleaning, but it might be necessary to keep things sparkling.

Once you’ve prepared your preferred cleaning solution, it’s time to mop. Dip your mop in the bucket and wet the fabric well. If you have a bucket made for mopping or a more advanced mop model, you can likely wring out excess liquid against the bucket itself or using the twisting mechanism on the mop. However, if you’re working with an “old school” mop, pull on some rubber gloves and wring the mop out by hand. 

Run the damp mop over the tile. A little liquid goes a long way, and using too much water could result in splotchy floors. After a few passes, dip the mop back in the bucket and wring out the mop head again before continuing. If your cleaning water becomes filthy, dump it out and prepare a new solution. It won’t do you any good to push grimy water around the floor as you try to clean it. 

2. Wooden floors

If you’re wondering how to clean hardwood floors, the answer is also a combination of vacuuming and mopping. Sweeping might do the trick to collect some pet hair and remove dirt each day, but you’ll need to do a real clean more often than not.

Like tile floors, you should vacuum wood floors regularly to pick up crumbs, dust, and grit that can scratch the surface. Then, for a deeper clean, break out the mop. 

When cleaning wooden floors, use a flat mop. These retain only a little bit of water so you won’t be dripping tons of liquid on the floor. Leaving excess water on wooden floors can ruin the surface. 

For your cleaning solution, opt for a liquid made specifically for hardwood. And, if you’re into easy floor cleaning methods, hardwood is the perfect candidate for spray mops. You can likely even find one that comes with a hardwood cleaning spray attachment. 

You never want to leave wooden floors wet, so if they’re taking a while to dry, speed the process along by wiping up excess liquid with a microfiber cloth. 

3. Carpet 

We’d venture to guess that you already know how to clean the floor with a vacuum when it comes to carpet. Yes, this is an ideal method for regular maintenance and picking up dog or cat hair or all those popcorn crumbs you spilled on the floor while binging your favorite series. But, sometimes carpets need a bit more TLC. 

You can disinfect or spot treat your carpet with a mixture of one part white vinegar and three parts water. Use a scrubbing brush or gentle sponge to work at the carpet fibers, and once you’ve treated the whole surface, sop up any excess liquid with a soft cloth. Remember that a little vinegar solution goes a long way, so take care not to soak your carpet. 

This applies to area rugs, too. If you’re lucky, you might be able to throw them in the washing machine. If not, a little soapy water will go a long way.

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Additional tips and tricks 

1. The best way to clean floors without a mop

If you don’t own a mop, it doesn’t mean that you can’t satisfactorily clean your floors. Prepare a floor cleaning solution as shown in item one above and put on your rubber gloves. Then, grab a cleaning cloth, dip it in the cleaning liquid, and wash each tile by hand. Wring out the cloth every so often, much as you would with a mop. Elbow grease is a very effective cleaner.

2. The best floor cleaning products 

The best cleaning solution is always one made for the type of surface you’ll tackle. Here are some industry favorites: 

1. Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner. 

2. Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner.

3. Pledge Floorcare Multi-Surface.

4. Mrs. Myer’s Clean Day.

5. Black Diamond Stoneworks Laminate Floor Cleaner.

3. How often to clean a floor

There’s no one right answer for how often to clean a floor, but the better you do with general upkeep, the better your floors will look on an everyday basis. As described in the tutorials on cleaning different floor types above, frequent vacuuming is key to preserving most surfaces, so vacuum a few times a week. 

Aim to do deeper cleans, like mopping tile or treating a carpet’s surface, at least once a month. The floors in kitchens, bathrooms and other high-traffic areas get dirty quickly, so you may need to mop once or twice a week. Implement a no-shoes policy in your home to prevent visitors from tracking dirt around, and you can likely space your cleans out more. 

Try keeping a cleaning schedule to make sure you’re taking care of your floor without overdoing it.

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