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Floor Vacuum Cleaners - Easy Care For Floors
Before floor vacuum cleaners the chore of caring for floor surfaces has been problematic. Traditionally smooth floors such as hardwood, tile, linoleum or other non-carpeted surfaces have been cleaned using either a wet or dry mop.
The trouble with these options is that a dry mop usually will not clean up stains and a wet mopping may result in a dull or streaky looking surface. Many people resorted to using a combination of a dry mop first to pick up dust and debris followed by a wet mop to wash and clean.
Thankfully there are now floor vacuum cleaners that can do both these chores with minimum effort on the part of the operator. There are several lightweight models of floor vacuum cleaners that both vacuum up dust and debris and then, with the flick of a switch, can be used to powerfully but gently scrub the surface of the floor.
A final pass with the vacuum will act similar to a window cleaner, pushing the water into a powerful suction area of the head of the vacuum leaving a dry, clean and streak free floor.
There are still some tips and techniques to ensure that you get the cleanest possible floor the first time around. The following tips can be used on any floor surface however it is always recommended to use cleaning products recommended for the various types of flooring. If you are using a new type of cleaning product or one that is home made consider testing a very small patch of flooring somewhere that is not easily seen.
This way, if there is any discoloration or problems with the cleaning product it can be determined before the product is used on the floors. This is a very rare issue but it is better to check first. Try the following:
- Use a small amount of diluted cleaner at a rate of about 1 part cleaner to 3 parts water to pre-soak sticky or heavily soiled areas. Simply use a spray bottle and moisten the stain area, leaving on the floor surface for three to five minutes. Warm water often helps with sticky spots.
- Avoid using bleaches or products containing bleach on any surface, especially hard wood floors.
- Always completely drain all tanks, both the clean water and the dirty water, from the vacuum. This prevents sediment from clogging the lines and keeps an even flow of water and cleaning solution to the floor area.
- Avoid cleaning any dust or debris that has nails, wire, shards of glass or other sharp objects. These objects are likely to lodge in the vacuum causing blockages or leaks.
- Avoid using the floor vacuum as a wet vacuum. It is not designed to pick up large quantities of water just the small amounts used in the cleaning process.
- Wash the cleaning head of the vacuum if it is a wash and dry floor vacuum. Be aware if any sharp objects have lodged in the cleaning head as they can scratch the surface of the floor.
Even with a dry only floor vacuum keep the power head or vacuum head clean and free from any potentially jagged or rough items.
When using one of the many floor vacuum cleaners on the market be sure to draw the vacuum slowly towards you and push it slowly away for the most effective dust or water collection. Carefully read and follow the recommended operating instructions and complete and send in the registration card so that your warranty is valid. Caring for your floor vacuum will keep it in great shape for many years to come and minimize the work to keep your floors sparkling clean...
