If you’re thinking about renovating your home, linoleum flooring seems to be a wonderful option to consider, but most people don’t know how to clean linoleum floors.

Although it has its detractors with memories of those ugly 70’s linoleum tiles, modern design has created much more attractive, stylish alternatives.

As always, every material has its own rules when it comes to cleaning and preserving them. Let’s read some strategies for you to get the best out of this durable, noble material.

What is Linoleum Flooring?

Linoleum is obtained through linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil. This makes the perfect replacement for wood. Scientific research deems it as “easy maintenance, recyclable, antibacterial, antistatic and hypoallergenic”.

This is combined with wood flour, cork, and pine resin to create a resistant yet flexible material. Linoleum can be found on the market in tiles or in rolls. Since it’s made out of wood, mostly, it’s sensitive to moisture.

Should You Install Linoleum in Your House?

Installing linoleum would be a great idea! It can last a long time, you have a ton of alternatives, and it’s safe for use in humid rooms such as the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or basement, because it’s resistant to bacteria, mold, and mildew.

Some areas like Texas can get extremely humid at certain times of the year, so linoleum will work great thanks to its great resistance to humidity.

How Should You Clean Linoleum Floors?

One of the main advantages of linoleum it’s its durability. Since it’s a combination of several materials, it’s treated in a way that it’s resistant to most types of cleaning products and common techniques. However, because it’s made of organic materials, they are somewhat susceptible, especially to water.

As always, a good installation saves a lot of trouble. This goes for pretty much every single floor material you can think of. If you install it correctly (yes, you can do it yourself!) and take good care of it, it can last for decades.

Linoleum floors will mostly require sweeping and mopping to stay clean and sanitized.

Sweeping Your Linoleum Floors

Having a linoleum floor will make your sweeping time a walk in the park. It doesn’t absorb dust or dirt, it repels it, hence the term “hypoallergenic”. Just apply your regular sweeping routine every day or every other day.

Using an anti-static broom will make it twice as easy. You can also use a dry microfiber mop.

Mopping Linoleum Floors

If you installed it properly, you’ll have no issues mopping your linoleum floors whenever you wish to. When mopping you can use straight white vinegar, mopping and then letting it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water.

This is what a “thorough” cleaning would look like, because regular cleaning will only require warm water. Make sure you dry the floor after mopping or any other time water is spilled.

Waxing Your Linoleum Floors to Keep Them Clean & Shiny

Wax will keep your linoleum floors nice and shiny over the years. You should apply wax at least twice a year, but once every quarter would be ideal.

Waxing is one of the few things in cleaning that should be done with proper, specialized products. Liquid acrylic floor wax is preferable over paste wax for this type of flooring.

Additional Care For Your Linoleum Flooring

Linoleum floors can turn into a yellowish color after a few years, especially when exposed to sunlight or because of spills. To fix this you can mix baking soda and lemon juice.

Just mix them until you form a paste and then scrub lightly using a toothbrush. Remember to rinse with water and dry afterward.

Mixing baking soda and bleach would be a good alternative. Usually, mixing bleach with any other product is not a good idea but baking soda is one of the few exceptions.

You can fix stains and spots by using a mild cloth and a neutral detergent (pH 6 to 8).  

Avoid ammonia or ammonia-based cleaning products. Also, be careful with pointed objects such as high heels because they may dent your floors.

Conclusion

Linoleum is an outstanding choice for your floors. Technology has allowed the creation of modern, elegant patterns, including imitations of classic floor choices such as wood, marble, and ceramics.

If you’re renovating on your own and you want to apply linoleum floors as a DIY project, remember to follow instructions carefully and look for advice from several sources before going in.

Keep in mind that water is your number one enemy for organic floors. Don’t let water sit for too long!

And remember, if you need to hire a cleaning service to use the right techniques for each type of surface, don’t hesitate to contact us!

The post How to Clean Linoleum Floors appeared first on Dallas Maids® | Maid Service & House Cleaning Services Voted #1 for a Reason.

We’ve all been there; you come home after a productive yet tiresome day at work, only to be greeted by a mess that needs cleaning. Dallas is one of the cheapest among iconic US cities, so people, in general, can afford to buy larger homes. 

Of course, the bigger the house, the bigger the mess. The only option is to sacrifice our weekends and leisure time to catch up on housework and try to keep up with your household inventory. Still, nobody wants to do that.

This article aims to provide you with some valuable tips that will help you to cut back on cleaning time.

1.   Inventory Your Items to Keep Track of Your Household Inventory

You will accumulate many items and appliances over the years. Also, human psychology tends towards the sunk cost fallacy.

This fallacy makes us very reluctant to change or discard things or items due to the invested effort. You don’t have to be a hoarder to realize that you do not need some of your stuff. We often keep large, voluminous appliances that we use once every few years. But we paid for it, so we’re not going to throw it away, and it’s too old to give away as a gift.

As mentioned, Dallas is a relatively cheap city to live in, so you can afford more items.  

The more items you have, the more you will have to clean. So what’s the solution? Should you throw away furniture and appliances that are redundant or rarely used? The answer is obviously: no.

The first step consists of an honest inventory. Set aside an afternoon and just look around. Think about what is actually helpful. Don’t think about what “would be cool to use,” like your walnut-shaped cookie maker.

We both know that you’re never going to make those cookies enough to justify keeping the appliance. The same goes for your clothes. The modern person has way too many sets of clothes while complaining that “there’s nothing to wear.”

This will help you especially when you’re creating a checklist for cleaning and organizing.

2.   Make or Rent Storage Space.

You don’t have to throw out anything. Investing in storage space allows you to free up your home while still getting to keep everything. Dallas has locations that will enable customers to rent space for affordable rates.

Or, you can try to construct more storage space inside your home. Either way will cost you, and it depends on how many items you need to store.

For example, there are small shelves that you can attach magnetically to your fridge. This is especially useful for those who do not have a pantry or their kitchen is very small. You will gain a few feet of extra space just with those. It is also possible to invest in hideaway pantry cabinets.

Most cabinets are taller than they need to be. You can take advantage of that heigh by stacking plates or condiments. However, it looks crowded and messy. It is also a hassle to take something from the bottom of the stack.

Consider buying extra shelves for these cabinets, along with beautiful hanging baskets that can hold fruit or condiments. The baskets can double as decorations.

While there isn’t a need for an extensive collection of seasonal items such as winter clothes in Dallas, you can share rented storage space with your neighbors. Storing seasonal items and sporting equipment is a good idea.

Conclusion

Why clean more than you have to? By getting rid of clutter and rarely used items, you can better use the space you have. Cleaning sessions will be quicker, and your home will look organized and uncluttered.   

And remember, you can always get extra help by hiring a professional cleaning service.

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