Dusting First

• Although it's not part of floor cleaning, dusting is a common housekeeping task as well. Doing the dusting prior to cleaning the floor is the smart way to go about your housework. When you dust your furniture, the excess dust not trapped by a dust cloth ends up floating through the air and eventually settling on the floor below. If you clean your floors prior to dusting, you are inevitably going to make the floors dirty again after completing the work. To prevent this, the first step in thorough floor cleaning is to dust everything that needs it. You should make it a habit to complete this task before doing anything else.
  
  

Hardwoods

• Hardwood floors are very popular because of the incomparable beauty they provide to the home. They are durable and can add a lot to the looks of a home but only if they are clean and in good condition. Before cleaning the floor itself, it is important to remove all the dirt and matter that may have made their way onto the wood floors from the bottoms of shoes, the kitchen table or other sources. These bits will act like sandpaper if you try to clean the floor without removing them first, and the result will be a scratched surface. Sweep or vacuum the floors first to remove all the loose dirt, then use a dust mop and a product designed for use with wood floors to clean the wood.
  
  

Carpet

• Carpet can be attractive flooring if it is properly maintained, but it can be an eyesore if it is not. It can also harbor lots of contaminants and reduce air quality. Regular vacuuming is a must for carpeted floors. The suction and brushing action of a vacuum will extend the life of your carpet, improve its appearance and suck most of the settled dust particles trapped in the carpet to improve air quality. Make sure your filter or bag is in good condition prior to vacuuming your home.
  
  

Tile

• Tile is among the easiest of the floor surfaces to clean. Unlike wood floors, tile floors are not susceptible to damage from water. You can thoroughly clean your tile floors using warm water and a mop. Grout between tiles may require additional work. Use a cotton mop with coiled yarns to get into the crevices of the grout, and scrub them clean with a full-strength floor cleaner to restore color. You'll need to rinse with a mop and clear water afterward. Sealing the grout will help prevent future stains.