Unless the areas that you are cleaning have one kind of floor throughout, you will have to deal with different cleaning methods depending on the different kinds of hard-surface floors. The first step toward efficient floor cleaning is to know what your floor is made of. What works for one surface may ruin another.

Wood floors, for example should be cleaned with solved or solvent-based cleaning wax. Never use water solutions or cleaners that have to be rinsed off with water on wood floors; this will cause the wood to swell.

Ceramic tile floors (glazed or unglazed) should be damp-mod cleaned with an all-purpose cleaner. Avoid using harsh abrasive cleaners that might scratch glazed ceramic floors and never use acids or strong soaps on unglazed ceramic floors.

The first time you use any procedure on any floor, test it on an out-of-the-way part of the floor to be sure that it does not damage the flooring or finish.

Got any specific questions? Ask ‘em at the Ask Dr. Dirt page and I’ll try to get them answered soon.

Until tomorrow, happy cleaning from Dr. Dirt.