How to Clean Kitchen Floor: Keep Your Kitchen Clean 24/7

It’s undeniable that kitchen floors endure the most foot traffic, grease splatters, and spilled food! Without proper care, kitchen floors can wear and tear quickly.

In this article, we’ll share with you the top tips and tricks on how to clean kitchen floor effectively. Let’s get started!

Understanding Different Types of Kitchen Floors

When it comes to kitchen floors, various materials are commonly used.

We’ll share the common flooring types, including porcelain or ceramic tiles, natural stones like granite and marble, hardwood, laminate, and linoleum.

Each flooring type comes with its unique characteristics and maintenance requirements.

Utilizing Proper Cleaning Techniques for Each Floor Type

Understanding your flooring type helps to ensure appropriate cleaning methods are applied when you clean your kitchen floor.

1. Ceramic or Porcelain Tiles Porcelain or ceramic tile floors are water-resistant and durable. They are a great choice for any kitchen expecting much foot traffic.

• Clean ceramic tiles by regularly sweeping and mopping the floor with a damp mop. Use a mix of warm water and mild detergent, liquid dish soap, or a specialized tile cleaner.
• Avoid using a sponge mop, as it can push dirty water into the grout lines. After mopping, make sure to dry the floor with a clean cloth to prevent water spots.
• Porcelain tile floors are prone to grout stains. Create a paste from baking soda and warm water to tackle these stains. Add a little fresh lemon juice for its disinfecting properties.
• Scrub the grout lines with a soft bristle brush and the paste. Rinse with clean water, then air-dry or dry with a microfiber towel.

1. Natural Stone Kitchen Floors Stone floors made of slate, marble, or granite require care to avoid damage.

• Use a pH-neutral cleaner and avoid acidic or abrasive solutions that could harm the surface, such as lemon juice or vinegar.
• For marble, use a soft rag or mop; for slate, a steam mop; and for granite, a microfiber cloth.
• A diluted mixture of water and mild dish soap is recommended for cleaning.

1. Hardwood Kitchen Floors Wood floors add warmth to a kitchen but require care due to their susceptibility to water damage.

• Clean hardwood floors with regular sweeping and mopping to keep dirt and grime at bay.
• Deep-clean hardwood floors at least once or twice a year using a hardwood mop and a specialized wood flooring cleaner, diluted per the manufacturer’s instructions.
• When mopping, use a mop that is only slightly damp. Rinse any excess liquid, as standing water can damage wood.
• Avoid products like Murphy Oil Soap and acrylic polish, as they can leave the floor looking dull. Vinegar can also harm the wood’s finish.
• For bamboo floors, follow the same care guidelines.

1. Laminate Flooring Laminate floors are budget-friendly and easy to maintain.

• Lightly mop with a mild laminate floor cleaner. A small amount of vinegar mixed with water works well.
• Dry the laminate floors with a microfiber cloth to prevent a cloudy finish.
• Avoid using steam cleaners or a wet mop, as standing water could seep into the baseboards and cause warping. Wax, acrylic products, or bleach should also be avoided.

1. Linoleum Kitchen Floors Linoleum floors are eco-friendly and resilient.

• Clean linoleum floors with a mixture of water and distilled white vinegar, dish soap, or a mild linoleum floor cleaner in a gallon bucket.
• After mopping, dry the floor to prevent damage.

Addressing Common Problems with Different Floor Materials

• Stains on tiles and grout: Use a paste of baking soda and water or a specialized grout cleaner to scrub off stubborn blemishes.
• Scratches on hardwood: Apply a hardwood floor polish or wax to minimize scratches and restore shine.
• Water damage on laminate: Promptly wipe up spills to prevent warping or bubbling.
• Fading on linoleum: Keep these floors out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.

How to Clean Kitchen Floor

Follow the following steps to successfully clean kitchen floor and keep it tidy:

Gathering Necessary Cleaning Supplies

efore you start to clean your kitchen floor, make sure to have the following supplies:

• Broom or vacuum cleaner
• Damp microfiber mop or a soft mop for hardwood
• Bucket
• Mild detergent, liquid dish soap, or specialized floor cleaner
• Warm water
• Vinegar
• Baking soda (for stain removal)
• Clean, dry towels or microfiber cloths

Pre-cleaning: Sweeping or Vacuuming

Start by sweeping or vacuuming your kitchen floor to remove any dirt, loose debris, crumbs, dust, and even pet hair. Make sure to cover every corner, focusing on spots that collect crumbs and grime the most, like around the countertop or trash bin.

Treating Stains and Spots

Cleaning the grout between tiles might require a little elbow grease, but there’s nothing that baking soda, water, and an old toothbrush can’t scrub off when you clean kitchen floors.

For wood floors, apply hydrogen peroxide and ammonia directly to greasy stains using cotton balls. Keep them on the spot until the grease is gone.

Wet Cleaning: Mopping the Floor

Once you have your diluted cleaner in a bucket, dip your mop in, then wring it out.

To prevent damage, laminate, linoleum, or hardwood floors are best cleaned with only a slightly damp mop. Avoid using sponge mops on these surfaces to ensure they stay in good condition.

Start in a corner and work your way out. We recommend mopping in a circular, figure-8 motion for optimal coverage. If you’re mopping on wood, follow the wood grain direction for the best results.

Rinse your mop in a separate bucket to prevent dirty water from transferring back into your floor cleaner.

Drying and Buffing the Floor

After mopping, go over the floor with a clean, dry towel or microfiber cloth to remove any excess moisture. This step prevents water damage or streaks.

However, some floors will air-dry completely on their own.

Selecting the Best Cleaning Products

Keeping your kitchen floors cleaned is essential for maintaining a hygienic and welcoming space.

However, with the plethora of available cleaning solutions, it can be overwhelming to explore the best cleaning products for your kitchen.

Comparison of Popular Store-bought Cleaning Solutions

When shopping for cleaning products, read the labels and look for phrases like “safe for hardwood,” “ideal for ceramic tile,” or “suitable for laminate.”

This will ensure you choose a solution specifically formulated for your kitchen floor’s needs.

Also, check for certifications such as Green Seal or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safer Choice, which indicate that the product meets environmental and safety standards.

Making Your Homemade Cleaning Solutions

For those who prefer a more natural approach or have allergies to certain chemicals, homemade cleaning solutions can be a great alternative when you clean your kitchen floor.

Here are some simple recipes to try:

All-purpose Vinegar Solution

• Mix equal parts of distilled white vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle.
• Suitable for hardwood, laminate, tile, and stone floors (excluding marble).
• Do not use it on marble floors, as vinegar can cause etching.

Baking Soda Paste

• Create a thick paste using baking soda and water.
• Suitable for tile and grout cleaning.
• Apply the paste to grout lines and scrub with a brush to remove stains and discoloration.

Tips and Best Practices on How to Clean Kitchen Floors

Check out these top tips on how to efficiently remove dirt and maintain your clean kitchen floors:

Scheduled Cleaning for Better Hygiene

First things first, make sure to follow the correct order in cleaning a kitchen, as mentioned above. 

Next, plot a schedule for when you’ll clean kitchen floors. This will likely depend on how busy your household is.

Nonetheless, cleaning the kitchen floor is crucial for hygiene, safety, and aesthetics. Here are some tips for scheduled cleaning that is important and works well:

1. Daily vacuum or sweep off loose grime, crumbs, pet hair, food particles, and debris. This prevents them from scratching the floor.
2. Wipe up spills and stains as soon as they happen. Liquids like oil, sauces, or acidic substances can damage some floor types if left for too long.
3. Mop the floor at least once a week. Use a damp mop with a suitable floor cleaner to remove stubborn blemishes and sanitize the surface.
4. Every few months, consider a deep cleaning session to clean kitchen floors. This involves more thorough scrubbing and cleaning to eliminate accumulated grime and dirt.

Using Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Methods

To clean kitchen floors with environmentally friendly methods benefits the planet and ensures a safer and healthier home environment. Here are some eco-friendly cleaning tips:

• Choose cleaning products labeled as eco-friendly or biodegradable. Look for options with fewer harmful chemicals, phosphates, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These release harmful fumes into the air.
• Create eco-friendly cleaning solutions using simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, lemons, and essential oils. 
• Opt for microfiber cleaning cloths instead of disposable paper towels. Microfiber cloths are reusable and washable.

Proper Maintenance for Longer Lasting Clean Kitchen Floors

To ensure clean kitchen floors that will look beautiful for years, follow these maintenance tips:

• Place doormats at the entrances of your kitchen to trap grime and prevent it from spreading across the floor.
• Avoid excessive moisture to prevent warping and damage.
• Place area rugs or mats in high-traffic areas or near the sink to protect the floor from spills and wear.
• Consider periodic professional maintenance for specific floor types, such as natural stone or hardwood, to restore their original luster and appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out the answers to these top 5 FAQs on how to clean kitchen floor:

Conclusion

Understanding the different kinds of kitchen floors is crucial for maintaining their beauty and durability when you clean kitchen floors.

By utilizing proper cleaning ways and techniques, gathering the right supplies, and always addressing common problems when you clean kitchen floors, you can surely keep your kitchen floor in excellent condition!

Simply take our guide on how to clean kitchen floors. Otherwise, you can save yourself the hassle by hiring Onix Cleaning Services. Book online now!