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Summer Cleaning Hacks to Beat the Mess of a Busy Home

Summer Cleaning Hacks to Beat the Mess of a Busy Home

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After a long and busy day, coming home to ruckus and disaster is the final straw. It’s not surprising that a cleaner home reduces the amount of stress and allergies in your home. At Go Mobile Flooring, we understand that you want to keep your high-quality flooring and cabinets clean. And although cleaning may be the last thing on your mind during the summer, it always pays off in the end. As students make their way back to school, there will be more opportunities for household maintenance. Below are some of our expert tips on how to keep your home nice and tidy throughout the summer.

Set a Cleaning Plan

If you’re already battling a busy schedule, it helps to put together a list of goals to achieve throughout the week. This includes your cleaning schedule. Organization doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and it may be difficult to incorporate cleaning into your routine. To start your list:

  • Choose the most flexible days of your week
  • Divide chores into categories
  • Check off as you go

A summer cleaning schedule will keep you on track, especially for those who struggle with organization. Dividing your chores into categories means deciding whether you want to sweep and mop your floors first, or scrub down your countertops.

Cleaning Essentials

Every part of your home deserves equal attention. While the more visible areas such as flooring, countertops, and bathrooms seem more necessary than the rest, it’s important to include smaller spaces where dirt may accumulate.

Flooring

At the very least, you should regularly sweep your floors to limit dust build-up in your home. Sweeping keeps allergies under control, and even helps to lower stress levels and anger! Take your floors to the next level by mopping directly after. This will further sanitize your flooring, make it look their best, and feel clean to the touch.

  • Hardwood flooring is very delicate and requires careful maintenance. When cleaning your hardwood floors, be sure to use products that are specifically for wood. Water and other harsh chemicals can cause damage to hardwood overtime. Clean spills immediately to prevent excess moisture from penetrating into the wood.
  • Tile is generally easier to maintain than hardwood. Unlike wood, tiles are able to sustain stronger cleaning chemicals and are prone to less damage from moisture depending on the material. Be sure to still wipe spills to prevent future stains. Regularly sweeping and mopping are key to maintaining tile floors.

For other flooring such as carpet, laminate, and vinyl, there are similar maintenance strategies. Vacuuming is yet another great option for homes of all flooring types.

Countertops & Cabinetry

Depending on the material of your countertops, maintenance varies. For example, quartz, granite, marble, and other natural stone countertops are susceptible to stains and etching if not properly maintained. For that reason, it’s recommended to invest in sealants. Regularly wipe down countertops and avoid harsh chemicals on natural surfaces. As for cabinetry, dusting down the interior/exterior and then wiping them down is all it takes to maintain them.

Windows

Don’t disregard windows in your summer cleaning routine; they’re the perfect place for dirt, dust, and mildew to accumulate. Failing to clean or wipe off your windows can lead to allergies and build-up of muck. Windows have direct contact with temperature fluctuations, rain, sunlight, and outdoor debris. Scrub down aluminum-framed windows with mild detergent, and wipe off the windows with glass cleaner. This will keep your windows shiny and clean overtime.

Don’t Forget the Outdoors

Don’t get too caught up in the interior of your home that you forget to maintain the exterior. Gardening and maintaining your yard will go a long way in the physical upkeep and appearance of your house.

Start Your Project

Looking for home renovation? Go Mobile Flooring is prepared to guide you through the entire decision, installation, and maintenance process. Trust our decades of service-driven experience to help you get started on your next home project. Whether you’re looking for flooring, countertops, or cabinetry, we include various color and material options. Our mobile showroom visits homes in the Tampa area and is available to assist you and your family. Contact us today for more information!

How Can Your Floors Maintain Good Quality Throughout Rainy Weather Climate?

Ways to Maintain Flooring Quality Throughout Rainy Weather Climate

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Hurricane season is here again, and that means wind and rain and all the trouble that comes with it. Even without a storm, summer rain showers in Florida are so regular you can set your watch by them. This type of moisture can wreak havoc on floors of all types. Plus, kids and pets can track mud and debris inside, causing long-lasting stains that may be hard to get rid of. Below are some of the best ways to maintain flooring quality even during the rainiest weather.

How Can Your Floors Maintain Good Quality Throughout Rainy Weather Climate?

Designate An Indoor Area

Having a mudroom or small vestibule inside your entryways is one of the best ways to maintain flooring quality; essentially, keeping this dirt, mud, and moisture contained in one area. You can also limit the number of entries into your home; when the kids are playing outside and it’s rainy, have them come back inside through a single entry. The same for pets. Once again, this keeps the extra water and mud from being tracked across your floors.

Designate An Outdoor Area

Installing an outdoor awning will make it easier for guests and kids to remove their shoes and keep the water outside. Also, having a gutter near your doorway will help to siphon water away from your welcome mat. It’s important to keep gutters clear though so that they work properly.

Prep for Wet Weather with Household Supplies

Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the best. Keep towels by doorways to wipe down pet paws and pat down wet clothes in the case of a storm. Outdoor mats to wipe off shoes and interior rugs will further keep mud and water at bay.

Install Waterproof Flooring

The best way to prevent warping and cracking of your flooring is to use a waterproof material such as laminate flooring. For wetter climates like Florida, this solution might be one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to maintain flooring quality. Laminate flooring ranges in cost from fairly cheap to expensive, so it’s best to examine all options in determining the best choice for your home. Go Mobile Flooring is happy to bring our mobile showroom to you, so you can easily evaluate the best laminate flooring for your needs.

For more information about waterproof laminate flooring please contact Go Mobile Flooring today. Our mobile showroom serves the Tampa Bay area including Pinellas and Pasco counties, Brandon, Land O’ Lakes, South Tampa, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and Clearwater.

Keeping Clean And Going Green

Keeping Clean And Going Green

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Keeping your floors clean is a point of pride for many homeowners. It can also be a huge challenge. Different flooring types respond better to different cleaning techniques. Plus, environmental concerns have highlighted how harmful some cleaners can be; and with children and pets, finding safer, green cleaning alternatives is important. So, what are the best ways to keep your floors clean? Below are some tips and tricks to keep your floors shiny and in good condition.

Keeping Clean And Going Green

Shoes are Filthy

It may be obvious that your shoes, while stylish, are one of the main culprits for tracking dirt and mud into your home. So, you may want to invest in some low shelving or baskets, place them near doorways, and encourage your family and visitors alike to remove their shoes before coming inside. Aside from possibly grinding dirt or mud into your carpet, high-heeled shoes can also leave divots in hardwood floors and linoleum.

Simple is Best

While there are fancy options on the market, sometimes the best way to clean your floors is with the simplest of tools. To keep your carpet clean on a daily basis, use a silent sweeper. It’s easy to push, making it possible for your little ones to help. Also, invest in a dustpan and broom; yes, a plain old dustpan and broom. A dustpan and broom are the easiest way to keep your hardwood and linoleum floors clean.

Cleaning Products From Your Pantry

You don’t need fancy cleaners that often don’t smell very good. Instead, raid your pantry for these common household items for green cleaning options.

  • Vinegar – It cleans and deodorizes, and when diluted in hot water, doesn’t actually smell that bad. Vinegar is great for tile and linoleum.
  • Baking Soda
  • Olive Oil and Lemon Juice – When paired together with hot water they are the perfect combination for cleaning your hardwood floors.
  • Hot Water
  • Essential Oils (for a little bit of fragrance) – Try lemon or citrus scents for your kitchen and lavender or pine scents for the other rooms.

Your floors are one of the biggest investments in your home. Learning how to take care of them, and adopting green cleaning techniques will keep them bright, shiny and clean for years to come. For more information about different types of flooring or to bring our mobile showroom to your doorstep, please contact Go Mobile Flooring today.