How to Maintain and Clean Different Types of Flooring

Wool carpet is a beautiful and natural addition to your home. Given its natural construction, it can be a little less tolerant of everyday life than its synthetic counterparts. With this said, wool is naturally insulating and fire-resistant, so there are many benefits to consider. The best advice for homes with wool carpet is considered care and prompt attention when required.

• Frequently vacuum your carpet with the appropriate machine (without a revolving head and using a dry vacuum)
• If there are any spills, attend to them straight away! Rinse with water and blot, not scrub.
• Occasional professional cleaning is recommended.

Regular care of carpet means trapped dirt and grit is not worn into the fibres. The fibre structure will remain upright for longer, and stains are less likely. It’s also worth noting with all flooring products that every individual product can have specific cleaning and care advice. Chat to your local Flooring Xtra expert if you have any questions.

You can read our Carpet Care guide to learn more about attending to spills and other details.

Synthetic carpets such as nylon, solution dyed nylon, polypropylene and Trixtra are wonderfully resilient and easy to live with. While they are not as authentic as wool carpet styles, they can offer a close look while also being durable.

While synthetic products are generally tough, they too need frequent care and attention to ensure they look good for longer.

• Just like wool carpet, vacuum frequently to avoid carpet soiling.
• Even though they can be inherently stain-resistant, it’s still important to appropriately clean up spills and accidents as they happen.

There are many variations of carpet structures as well as fibre types, so it’s worth seeking advice to learn what would suit your home and family if you’re looking for new carpet. There are different options that work well in family homes, homes with pets and other specific home situations.

Timber floors are a popular flooring choice for a reason. Their authentic grains and characteristics add beauty and style while being classic. Timber floors do need some extra care if you want to enjoy their special features.

• Encouraging shoes to be left at the door means dirt and grit from outside are less likely to scratch and wear the timber down.
• Sweep or vacuum (carefully) often. Small particles of dirt can damage the surface, so removing them frequently helps!
• When mopping, use water only, and sparingly.
• Rugs, runners and protective furniture leg pads work well to lessen any potential damage, particularly in high-traffic areas.
• Clean up spills quickly to avoid moisture sitting on the floors for a long time.
• If your floors become scratched or damaged, there can be options for repair. Consider homes that are hundreds of years old with timber floors! Chat to your local flooring store to see what is possible.

If you would like more information, check out our Hard Flooring Care Guide page to read further details.

Just like carpet, all hard flooring styles require regular care regardless of the material they are made from. While some are a little more forgiving than others, if you want your floors to look good in years to come, it’s important to take a little time to look after them.​

Timber-look flooring like laminate, vinyl and hybrid are suitable options for family homes and homes with pets as they are easy to look after and often scratch- or water-resistant. Remember, every product is different! When you are choosing new flooring, lean on the advice of experts to ensure you’re picking the right product for your unique needs.

• Even though these floors are durable, try not to wear shoes inside. This can be encouraged by providing shoe storage, such as a basket or rack at the front door. Having a stool, seat, or ottoman is also useful.
• Door mats at entrances work to trap any dirt and grit from outside coming in.
• Vacuum or sweep often to avoid any wearing and scratching from stray dirt or grit.
• Just like timber floors, mopping with water is all you need! Try not to use harsh chemicals, excess water or detergents.
• Keep pet paws in check (same goes for any flooring style!)
• Try not to drag anything heavy across your floors.
• Can you steam mop laminate flooring, vinyl or hybrid? They are best avoided.

Rugs add so much to a home, from warmth underfoot to colour and style to the decor. While they might be less of an investment than your fixed flooring, why not keep them looking stylish for longer? Rugs are similar to carpet, unsurprisingly, and their maintenance is similar too.

• Try to avoid wearing shoes on your rug, even though they are very common at entrances!
• Vacuum your rug frequently to avoid dirt and grit marking the fibres.
• Clean up any spills promptly, just as you would on carpet.

To read about soiling vs staining and how to treat any “accidents”, read our informative Rug Care page.

Many Australian homes have pets, and the flooring within these houses needs particular care. Here’s how to enjoy your flooring and pets.

• Ensure spills are cleaned up promptly, particularly around food and water bowls and entrances to the home.
• You may need to vacuum and mop more frequently if you’re a home with pets. Pet hair as well as dirty paws from lovely outdoor walks mean a bit more mess. Cleaning and maintenance will extend the lifespan of your flooring.
• Keep your pets’ nails trimmed and neat to minimise scratching and flooring damage.
• If you’re looking to purchase new flooring, there are some styles that are more appropriate than others. Cut and twist pile carpets can be better than loop styles that might catch on pet paws. Scratch- and moisture resistant flooring with pets is a match made in heaven!

Explore the ranges of hard flooring that work with pets (as well as some cleaning tips) in our Hard Flooring and Pets Guide as well as our comprehensive Carpet and Pets Guide.

–

Whether your question is regarding laminate flooring maintenance or the best way to remove pet hair from vinyl plank floors, there’s an expert waiting to help you at your closest Flooring Xtra store.

What are the benefits of hybrid flooring?

There are many benefits of hybrid flooring that make it a great flooring choice. It looks fantastic, with many authentic timber-look styles available. It’s also durable, easy to clean and some products can be installed in wet areas.

What flooring is good for coastal homes?

There are many great solutions for homes by the beach. It’s important to consider how much maintenance you would like to upkeep and the resilience of the flooring that will withstand the extra elements that coastal living incurs (we’re looking at you, sand!). Easy-to-maintain flooring also includes laminates and vinyls as well as easy-to clean-carpets. You can read more about this on our blog.

Can I install flooring myself or do I need a professional?

It’s always best to leave flooring installation to the professionals. Each Flooring Xtra store has their own dedicated team that will oversee your new flooring installation. They have years of experience, all the right tools and trouble-shooting skills. You will also benefit from an Installation Warranty. Rest easy and let the experts complete your dream flooring installation.