A good floor, looked after simply, will look new for years. The secret is not doing more, it is doing the right things and avoiding a few that quietly cause damage.
The rules that apply to every floor
- Grit is the enemy. Sand and grit act like sandpaper underfoot. Use doormats at every entrance and sweep or vacuum regularly.
- Felt pads on furniture. Stick felt pads under chair and table legs, and lift furniture rather than dragging it.
- Wipe spills promptly. Even waterproof floors are happier dry at the joints.
- Damp mop, don’t flood. A well-wrung mop cleans better than a soaking one, whatever the floor.
Vinyl, LVT & SPC
The easiest floors to live with. Sweep or vacuum, then damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner. Avoid harsh solvents and abrasive pads, which can dull the wear layer. No wax or polish needed, the factory finish does the work.
Laminate
Keep it on the dry side. Vacuum, then use a barely-damp microfibre mop, never a steam mop, and never let water pool in the joints, as the core can swell. A laminate-specific spray cleaner is ideal; avoid oil soaps and polishes that leave a film.
Engineered wood
Treat it like the real wood it is. Vacuum with a soft head, damp mop with a dedicated wood-floor cleaner, and wipe spills quickly. Over the years, a pre-finished floor can be buffed and re-coated, and a solid-veneer board can be sanded and re-sealed to look brand new, something no vinyl or laminate can offer.
Carpet tiles
Vacuum regularly and treat spots quickly with a suitable carpet cleaner. The big advantage of modular carpet tiles: if one tile is stained or damaged, you lift and swap that single tile instead of replacing the whole floor.
Commercial vinyl sheeting
Homogeneous and heterogeneous sheet vinyl in shops, clinics and schools takes far heavier traffic than a home floor, so it needs a little more. Dust-mop or vacuum daily to lift grit, then damp mop or auto-scrub with a pH-neutral cleaner. Put walk-off matting at every entrance to cut the dirt coming in, and deal with scuffs using a soft pad rather than an aggressive abrasive that can dull the surface.
Scrub and seal for vinyl floors
Over time, busy vinyl and sheet floors lose their sheen and hold ground-in dirt that ordinary mopping cannot lift. A professional scrub and seal brings them back: we machine-scrub the surface to strip the old, dulled layer and ingrained grime, then apply a fresh protective seal that restores the finish and makes everyday cleaning easier. For clinics, schools and shops it is a cost-effective way to keep floors looking cared-for without replacing them.
A simple routine
| How often | Do this |
|---|---|
| Daily / as needed | Wipe spills; mats at the doors |
| Weekly | Sweep or vacuum; damp mop hard floors |
| Occasionally | Check felt pads; deep-clean carpet tiles |
| Long term | Re-coat or re-sand engineered wood |
Looking after an Imbiza floor? Ask us for the specific care sheet for your product.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean LVT and vinyl flooring?
Sweep or vacuum to remove grit, then damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner and a well-wrung mop. Avoid harsh solvents, abrasive pads, wax and polish. The factory wear layer does not need any coating, so simple regular cleaning keeps it looking new.
Can I use a steam mop on laminate or wood floors?
No. Steam mops force heat and moisture into the joints and finish, which is one of the most common causes of damage to laminate and wood floors. Use a barely-damp microfibre mop and a cleaner made for that floor type instead.
How do I stop my floor from scratching?
Put doormats at every entrance to catch grit, fit felt pads under furniture legs, lift rather than drag heavy items, and sweep or vacuum regularly. Grit underfoot is the main cause of surface scratching on any floor.
Can engineered wood be refreshed when it looks tired?
Yes. Pre-finished engineered floors can be buffed and re-coated, and boards with enough veneer can be sanded back and re-sealed to look brand new. This ability to refinish is a key advantage of real wood over vinyl and laminate.
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