The floor is an area that requires very frequent cleaning, as it is easily polluted by dust, microbes, food crumbs and so on. This dirt most often comes from shoes or dirty bare feet.
In today’s environment, where surface disinfection is strongly recommended by the health authorities, it’s imperative to ensure floor hygiene. Simple cleaning is not enough to eliminate microbes, bacteria and viruses responsible for contact-transmitted diseases such as covid-19.
What’s the best way to clean and disinfect floors?
A closer look at the hygiene and cleaning products to use, depending on the floor type.
Cleaning a tiled floor
Tiles require regular cleaning to prevent dirt from embedding and dulling their color and shine. In particular, it must be washed with suitable products to preserve the seals.
To avoid damaging tiles, it’s best to opt for a cleaner specially designed for washable floors or tiles, such as Impec disinfectant floor and surface cleaner without bleach, which both cleans and disinfects floor and surfaces. This product removes dirt as well as bacteria, microbes and viruses that can infect floors. It is generally used diluted in clear water, but can also be applied undiluted to remove stubborn stains.
For dull tiles, there are also wax-based polishes for washable floors, which restore shine and protect against stains.
It should be noted that products containing bleach, pure bleach, detergent powder and scale remover can damage tiles. They should therefore be avoided when cleaning tiled floors.
How to wash a PVC floor?
PVC is a material that is increasingly used for indoor flooring. This is because it offers a wide range of aesthetic possibilities.
However, PVC floors are highly sensitive to dampness, strong solvents and bleach. To avoid damaging them, it’s best to opt for a mild, bleach-free cleaner.
You can also use just a little soapy water, applied with a well wrung-out mop. However, in the case of stubborn stains or when disinfection is required, a bleach-free disinfectant cleaner is more appropriate.
Cleaning a parquet
Parquet is a particularly fragile floor covering because it’s made of wood. Maintenance can therefore be more or less complicated, depending on whether it is waxed, laminated or varnished.
Waxed parquet does not have a protective layer against scratches and dampness from above. Care must therefore be taken when cleaning it, especially to avoid contact with humidity. To avoid dulling the parquet, dust should be swept up thoroughly so that it doesn’t form layers on the floor. Then apply a thin coat of neutral or colored polish using a microfiber cloth or sponge.
Laminate parquet, on the other hand, is not made from raw wood, which means it is more resistant to dampness. It can therefore be cleaned with a floor cleaner or a disinfectant floor cleaner without bleach.
Finally, varnished parquet has a protective varnish coating that also makes it less fragile to damage. As a result, it can be mopped with a floor cleaner or polish if the surface needs to be brightened up.
Carpet cleaning
Carpets are common in offices and other professional premises. This type of floor is more difficult to disinfect and clean because the fibers absorb microbes and dirt.
To thoroughly clean a carpet, it’s essential to vacuum it every day. This is the most effective way to remove as much embedded dirt as possible.
It should then be washed with a powder, carpet shampoo or special disinfectant spray. Carpets can be power-washed once or twice a year, depending on how dirty they are. You can find DIY tips for creating homemade carpet shampoo on the Internet.
To avoid soiling the carpet too quickly, it is recommended to place mats at the entrances to trap as much dirt as possible. When carpet is used as a floor covering in a home, it’s best to remove shoes completely before walking on it. This allows for longer intervals between thorough cleaning, since the carpet is less exposed to the dirt and microbes carried by shoes.