Care & Maintenance: Protecting Your Flooring Investment

Your new floor is an investment — and with the right care it will look beautiful for years to come. Every flooring type has its own care requirements and the best source of specific guidance is always your manufacturer's care documentation. What follows are general best practices for each flooring category we carry.

Carpet Care

Day to Day

Vacuum high traffic areas regularly to remove dirt and grit before it works its way into the carpet fibers. In lower traffic areas like bedrooms weekly vacuuming is generally sufficient. Use a vacuum with a rotating brush or beater bar and adjust the height to match your carpet pile. Use the edge attachment to clean along baseboards and corners where soil tends to collect.

Address spills immediately — blot with a clean white absorbent cloth or paper towel. Never rub a spill as this can work it deeper into the fiber and damage the pile. The right cleaning approach also depends on your carpet fiber. Solution dyed fibers and polyester or PET carpets are inherently more stain resistant and generally easier to clean than other fiber types.

Professional Cleaning

Periodic professional cleaning is essential to maintaining your carpet's appearance and extending its useful life. How often depends on your household — traffic levels, pets, children, and Florida's humidity all play a role. Most carpets benefit from professional cleaning somewhere between every 12 and 18 months, though high traffic homes with pets may need it more frequently. Your carpet should be professionally cleaned at least once every 18 months to maintain its appearance and useful life.

Hot water extraction — commonly known as steam cleaning — is the industry recommended method. Whether you hire a professional or rent a machine yourself, look for equipment and cleaning products that carry the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval. Using non-approved products or treatments can damage your carpet and may void your manufacturer warranty. A list of approved products is available at carpet-rug.org.

Preventative Care

  • Place walk-off mats at all entrances to trap dirt and moisture before it reaches your carpet

  • Use furniture coasters or wide leg pads under heavy furniture to prevent crushing and matting

  • Move furniture periodically to prevent permanent traffic patterns and matting in high use areas

Hardwood & Engineered Hardwood Care

Do:

  • Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove dirt and grit that can scratch the surface

  • Damp mop with a neutral pH cleaner — never use excessive water

  • Place walk-off mats at entrances to trap dirt and moisture

  • Use felt pads under all furniture legs to prevent scratches

  • Clean spills immediately with a soft cloth

  • For candle wax or chewing gum — let it harden then gently scrape with a plastic scraper such as a credit card. Always follow with a neutral cleaner or water rinse

  • Always vacuum first after construction or renovation — never add moisture to sheetrock dust as it will create a stubborn residue film on your floor

Don't:

  • Don't use wet mops or steam mops

  • Don't use harsh chemicals, ammonia, or abrasive cleaners

  • Don't use oil based wax or polish

  • Don't drag heavy furniture across the floor

  • Don't let pet nails grow too long

  • Don't expose your floor to excessive moisture or standing water

Luxury Vinyl Plank & Tile Care

LVP and LVT are among the easiest flooring types to maintain — but a few important rules will keep your floor looking its best for years.

Routine Care

Sweep, dust mop, or vacuum daily in high traffic areas to remove dirt and grit that can scratch the surface over time. Do not use vacuums with rotating beater bars on hard surface flooring. For wet cleaning always pre-vacuum or dust mop before mopping. Use a neutral pH floor cleaner and a damp — not wet — microfiber mop. Never flood the floor with water.

Important Do Nots

  • Avoid steam mops — most manufacturers do not recommend them as excessive heat can cause expansion and damage. Always check your specific product's care guidelines before using one

  • Avoid products containing bleach

  • Avoid mop and shine products which leave residue buildup

  • Avoid abrasive cleaners

  • Avoid cleaners containing Quaternary Ammonium Salts which can cause discoloration over time

  • Avoid walk-off mats with latex or rubber backings which can discolor the floor

Tough Spot Removal

Blot wet spills immediately with paper or cloth towels. For dried spots gently agitate and rinse with water. For stubborn spots such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, or tar — apply rubbing alcohol or acetone on a clean white cloth then wipe with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.

Sun & Temperature

Avoid prolonged direct sunlight on LVP flooring as it can cause fading and expansion. Use window treatments to protect your floor in sun exposed rooms. Surface temperature should stay between 55°F and 100°F — important to know for Florida homes during extreme heat or in the event of bed bug heat treatments.

Post Construction

Always dry mop first to remove construction dust before any wet cleaning. Adding moisture to drywall dust creates a stubborn film that requires additional steps to remove.

Preventative Care

  • Place walk-off mats at all entrances — use mats without latex or rubber backings

  • Use wide floor protectors under furniture legs

  • Place chair pads under rolling chairs to prevent surface damage

  • Do not use tape directly on LVP during construction or renovation — use ram board or similar protective material instead

Laminate Care

Laminate floors are durable and designed to handle tough household conditions — but proper care will keep them looking their best for years.

Routine Care

  • Sweep, dust mop, or vacuum regularly using the hard floor attachment — never the beater bar

  • Blot spills immediately with a damp cloth — never allow liquids to stand on laminate

  • Never wet mop or wash with soap, water, oil soap, or any liquid cleaning material — this can cause swelling, warping, and joint separation

  • Use a cleaner specifically formulated for laminate floors with a neutral pH

  • Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or ammonia or chlorine based cleaners

  • Do not use buffing or polishing machines

Tough Spot Removal

  • For oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, or tar — apply acetone or nail polish remover on a clean white cloth then wipe with a damp cloth to remove residue

  • For candle wax or chewing gum — apply a gel solvent or isopropyl alcohol, let dwell briefly, then gently scrape with a plastic scraper such as a credit card. Always follow with a neutral cleaner or water rinse

Environmental Considerations

Laminate should be maintained in a climate controlled environment with temperatures between 65°F and 85°F and relative humidity between 35% and 65%. In Florida where humidity levels can fluctuate significantly this is especially important. Running your air conditioning consistently helps maintain these conditions and protects your floor year round.

If you live near the beach or in a sandy area more frequent vacuuming or dust mopping may be needed to prevent grit from scratching and dulling the surface.

Preventative Care

  • Place walk-off mats at all entrances — especially important in Florida where sand, dirt, and moisture are tracked in regularly. Use mats without latex or rubber backings

  • Use wide floor protectors under furniture legs — the heavier the object the wider the protector should be

  • Use an approved vinyl rug underlayment under area rugs to prevent slippage and protect the floor surface

  • Do not use tape directly on laminate during construction or renovation — use ram board or similar protective material instead

Ceramic & Porcelain Tile Care

Tile is one of the most low maintenance flooring options available — but consistent care keeps it looking its best.

Routine Care

  • Allow new tile and grout to dry for at least 72 hours before any cleaning or maintenance

  • Sweep, dust mop, or vacuum regularly to remove dirt and grit — do not use vacuums with rotating beater bars

  • Wet mop with a neutral pH cleaner on a schedule based on traffic level — always rinse with water after wet cleaning

  • Use two buckets when mopping — one with cleaner, one for rinsing the mop

  • Address spills quickly to avoid staining and safety hazards — blot dry after cleaning

  • Never use detergent or soap as these leave residue buildup that dulls the surface

  • Do not use cleaners containing acids, vinegar, chlorine, or ammonia as these can damage grout and tile surfaces

Grout Care

Grout requires periodic cleaning to remove surface residue buildup. Routine cleaning with a neutral pH cleaner is usually sufficient. For deep cleaning use a professional strength tile and grout cleaner following the manufacturer's instructions. Keep in mind that neither sealing grout nor using epoxy grout guarantees against surface buildup or discoloration over time — regular cleaning is still necessary.

Preventative Care

  • Place walk-off mats at all entrances — keep mats clean

  • Use heavy duty felt protectors under furniture legs — avoid metal protectors which can rust and stain tile

  • Protect the floor when moving heavy objects to prevent surface damage

  • Maintain clean exterior walkways to minimize the amount of dirt and grit tracked inside

A Note on Manufacturer Instructions

The care guidelines above are general best practices. Every product is different and your manufacturer's specific care documentation is always the authoritative source. When in doubt check your warranty documentation or give us a call — we're happy to help point you in the right direction.

Questions About Caring for Your Floor?

Call us at (904) 778-1846 or stop by our showroom at 4256 Blanding Blvd. We want your floor to look beautiful for years to come and we're here to help even after the sale.