Stratos’ tips for cleaning floors – just in time for holiday functions!

The holiday season is in full swing, which means the time for hosting get-togethers and dinners is upon us all. Apart from putting the house in order, there’s one thing every homeowner needs to add to his or her to-do list: floor cleaning.

Over the years, we at ServiceMaster by Stratos have discovered great practices to maintain the cleanliness of floors, which you can use in your own homes. Whether your home is lined with hardwood, carpet or tile, we offer a few tips on how to freshen up your floors before the guests arrive.

Hardwood
Most likely, you do this already, but it’s always worth repeating – set aside time to vacuum every week! The reason? Dust has fine grit in it that can slowly wear through your wood floor’s finish. Ensure your hardwood keeps its healthy and clean appearance by giving it a good vacuum regularly. Once vacuumed, remove residue by taking a no-wax wood cleaner to the floor.

Carpet
Without proper care, your carpets can begin to lose their luster – especially since they’re walked on daily. But, with a proper cleaning regimen, your carpet will look healthy and clean for years. Again, it’s important to vacuum your carpet every week. Pro tip! When vacuuming, count slowly to three during each forward and backward stroke to ensure the vacuum has time to do its work. If your carpet has reached the point that vacuuming isn’t enough, then do-it-yourself steam cleaning options are available or a residential carpet cleaning service like ServiceMaster Residential Services can help bring back your carpet’s luster just in time for company. Think New Year’s Eve, Super Bowl parties and more! One thing you will want to make sure of is that the manufacturer’s warranty is followed so as not to void any warrants still in effect.

Tile
To put it lightly, grouted tile floors can be a real pain to clean. Dirt and mold can build up in the grout, causing an unwelcomed discoloration. But, there are steps you can take to help your tile shine! To clean tiles and grout, simply make a thick paste using three parts baking soda to one part water. Rub the paste onto the grout. Then, mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the surface. This versatile cleaner will work with all colors of grout, but it’s important to note that vinegar can be harmful to some natural stones such as marble or limestone. If you have marble or limestone, use water in place of vinegar. Next, scrub the tile and grout with a brush to ensure the dirt and mold comes off with ease. Rinse the paste off once finished.

You’re now prepared to clean ahead of your household functions, but what about office holiday parties? That’s a much larger task! ServiceMaster by Stratos believes that there is no job too large in scope to service. Contact us to learn more about how we can assist in your facility’s carpet or hard-surface maintenance.