floor cleaning in winter

Your floors handle a lot all year long, but winter takes the cake. Snow, ice, mud and spilled hot liquids could wreak havoc on your carpets, hardwoods, luxury vinyl plank and tile. With the right tools, techniques and cleaning solutions, keeping your flooring clean and safe to walk on doesn’t have to be difficult at this time of year.

Floor-cleaning Tools

Depending on what type of floors you have, you might need several different cleaning implements.

• Vacuum: Ideal for carpets, a vacuum can also quickly pick up light debris on hard surfaces. For convenience, choose a robot vacuum that doesn’t require your presence. A handheld vacuum is perfect for cleaning the stairs and collecting smaller spills. Have limited storage? Try a stick vacuum.
• Mop: Need to wipe up tracked-in ice and snow or caked-on dirt? Go with a mop. Timeless cotton mops are economical and environmentally friendly. Just wash the removable head and it’s ready to reuse. You can also choose all-in-one mops with their own cleaning reservoirs and disposable heads.



A push broom like this one moves lightweight debris, such as pet hair and dust.

• Broom: A broom will sweep up anything from leaves to hot cocoa mix with ease. Traditional corn fiber brooms can be carried and put away easily, and they can get under cabinets and furniture. Push brooms with nylon fiber heads are durable and can sweep a large area quickly, catching large and small debris at the same time. Some are versatile, made for indoor/outdoor use.

Consider your square footage, flooring types and storage space before selecting your cleaning implements.

Techniques

Following best practices for floor cleaning will make the chore more effective and efficient – so you can spend more time and energy enjoying winter activities or just curled up by the fire. Even if you’ve been mopping and sweeping for years, you’ll probably discover a new technique or two.

The proper sweeping stance will help you protect your body and work more efficiently. Stand straight, keeping your legs shoulder-width apart and slightly bend your knees. Holding the broom with both hands, sweep with short strokes toward yourself. Begin in the far corner of the room and move inward. Collect the debris in a dustpan.

Messy mulch cleans up quickly with a high-quality Harper broom.

Plan to mop your hard-surface floors every week in high-traffic areas and every other week in less used spaces, like a formal living room. Always sweep first to clean up any dust or dry debris.

Start with a bucket full of warm water (lukewarm if you have waxed floors) with a couple of squirts of cleaning solution. Dampen the mop by dipping it into the soapy water and wringing it out. Similar to your sweeping, you should work your way toward the center of the room. Move back and forth, overlapping the strokes so you don’t miss any spots. Also, go over everything twice before rinsing the mop and wiping the floor clean. Stay out of the room until all is dry.

Cleaning Solutions

Store-bought floor cleaners can do the job, but why not try a homemade solution? They’re less expensive and more environmentally friendly.

For a versatile cleaner, stir together a quarter cup of white vinegar, one-eighth cup of rubbing alcohol, one-eighth teaspoon of dish soap and one-and-a-half cups of warm water.

You can also mix dish soap and warm water for an easy cleaning solution. Just be sure not to overdo it on the soap. You’ll also want to mop with a microfiber cloth to prevent streaks.

Tackle your floor care this winter and all year long with these tips and techniques.