How to Clean Cork Floors | Care & Maintenance Guide
You’ve just adorned your home with beautiful cork flooring – it’s soft underfoot, eco-friendly, sound-absorbent, and gives natural charm to your space. But, with all these benefits, it needs to be clean and requires some care to remain in top-notch condition.
Imagine, you coming home after a busy day, kicking off your shoes, and feeling the warmth of your cork floors welcoming you.
But wait! What’s that? A spill from yesterday’s dinner party? Some scratches from moving furniture around?
It happens, but fret not!
Planet Ark provides a comprehensive guide on cork floor cleaning, care and maintenance. Additionally, we offer the best floor cleaning products that not only clean but also nourish your cork floor, keeping it looking fresh and vibrant for years.
Let’s explore how to keep your cork floors shining bright!
Immediate Care After Cork Floor Installation:
Cork floor tiles require some care after installation, to maintain their beauty and longevity:
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Proper Ventilation:
Ventilation is the breath of fresh air; your cork flooring needs after installation. Airflow not only helps dry and set the cork floor properly but also keeps your indoor air healthier.
When fresh air circulates, it lowers the chance of moisture building up, which could cause problems like bending or harming the cork panels later on.
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Shield from Sunlight:
Direct sunlight can cause fading and discoloration, robbing the natural beauty of cork tiles flooring.
To preserve their shine, consider using curtains, blinds, or UV-blocking window films to shield your cork floors from harsh rays. This simple step can go a long way in maintaining the integrity of your flooring for years.
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Temperature and Moisture Control:
Maintaining a balance of temperature and moisture is key to the health of your cork flooring. Cork floors last longer when kept dry.
Avoid using cork floors in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements without waterproofing.
Extreme exposure can cause the cork panels to expand or contract, leading to unsightly gaps or noisy floors. Keep your home cozy and consistent, so that you can protect your cork floors and ensure they stand the test of time.
Cork Floor Cleaning | Using Chemical-free Products:
1. Sweep Frequently:
Regular sweeping is important to remove abrasive particles and prevent scratching, especially when it comes to white cork flooring. Use a soft-bristled broom, dust mop, or vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment.
Depending on usage, repeat 3 – 7 times a week to prevent grit and dirt from damaging your cork floor. Remember, never vacuum without a soft brush attachment to avoid permanent scratching.
2. Dust and Mop Carefully:
In between vacuuming sessions, dusting or mopping helps eliminate dirt and grit that can scratch your floors. Only use damp mops on cork flooring to maintain its integrity.
Planet Ark provides an Eco-Friendly Cork Floor-Pad, a chemical-free fiber cork floor mop, designed to clean and prolong the life of your cork floors while being environmentally responsible.
Thoroughly wring out the mop before cleaning to avoid standing puddles, which can harm the floor.
You can also use the Perfect Floor Express Handle for easy mopping. It evenly distributes pressure across the micro-fiber pad, ensuring effective cork floor tiles cleaning without the need to bend down.
3. Allow the Floor to Air Dry:
After mopping, allow your floors to air dry or use a dry cloth or towel to absorb excess moisture. Never immerse the surface of your floors in water to clean them, as this can cause damage.
4. Clean with Stronger Cleaners Occasionally:
Consider using a stronger cleaning liquid when your floor seems dirty.
Avoid using harsh chemicals and use a mild detergent or a natural floor cleaner like Orange Power Shower – Tile Cleaner, best for cork floors; a chemical-free and eco-friendly cleaner for steady care.
Remember, don’t spray the cleaner directly onto the cork floor. Instead, put on the cleaning product to a mop and softly polish the floor.
This way, you’ll clean them well without strong chemicals, and your floors will look clean and won’t have any leftover residue.
5. Perform a Deep Clean as Needed:
For extremely dirty floors, perform a deep clean using appropriate methods based on your floor finish.
If the floor has a polyurethane finish, use a floor machine with 00-grade wool disks and reapply the finish after cleaning.
For wax finish floors, clean with liquid solvent wax or use a buffer with 00 steel wool disks, followed by lamb’s wool disks and another application of wax.
How To Maintain Cork Floors | Dos and Don’ts
Here are some essential dos and don’ts to prevent damage to your cork floors:
Dos:
- Sweep Regularly and Mop with Care: Sweep your cork floors regularly to remove dirt and debris, and mop with a minimal amount of water to avoid oversaturating the flooring. This helps maintain its natural charm without causing damage.
- Clean Up Spills Immediately: Cork flooring doesn’t tolerate moisture well, so clean up spills as quickly as possible to prevent water damage and discoloration. Swift action ensures your floors stay fresh and vibrant.
- Protect with Entrance Mats and Furniture Pads: Shield your cork floors from wear and tear by placing an entrance Door Mat to trap dirt and grit. Additionally, use furniture pads to prevent scratches and dents when moving or rearranging furniture.
- Reseal Your Floor Regularly: Maintain the integrity of your cork flooring by resealing it whenever the old sealant wears down. This simple step helps keep your floors in tip-top shape, ensuring their longevity and durability.
- Rotate Furniture with Time: Extend the lifespan of your cork floors by periodically moving your furniture, even if it’s just a few inches. This prevents permanent dents and distributes weight evenly across the floor.
- Protect from Direct Sunlight: Direct sunlight can cause cork floors to fade over time. Install window treatments to shield your floors from excessive sunlight and maintain their original luster.
Don’ts:
- Avoid Harsh Cleaning Products: Steer clear using harsh cleaners or rough scrubbers on cork floors. These can harm the finish and lead to discoloration.
- Don’t Allow Standing Water: Ensure you never leave standing water on cork floors, particularly unsealed floating floors. It can seep into the core material and cause damage.
- Avoid Heavy Furniture Dragging: When rearranging furniture, lift rather than drag it across the cork floor to prevent scratches and damage. Furniture coasters with felted sides provide a smooth glide and protect your floors from unnecessary wear.
- Don’t Skip Sealing: Consider sealing your cork floors, especially in moisture-prone areas like kitchens and bathrooms. This helps protect against water damage and ensures long-term durability.
- Avoid Excessive Grit and Debris: Keep the surface of your cork floors free from harsh substances such as grit, sand, and cinders. They can wear down the sealant and cause damage over time.
Shop Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products for Cork Floors Today!
Ready to enhance your home with cork flooring Perth?
At Planet Ark, we offer a range of natural, chemical-free cork floor cleaning products for effective care and maintenance.
Our eco-friendly, vegan, and hypoallergenic cleaning products are tailored to maintain the integrity of your cork floors.