Floorell’s Spring Cleaning Flooring Tips and more…

Spring cleaning is a funny thing.

Some people look forward to a chance to dust out the cobwebs and de-clutter their lives, whereas others look at as a dreaded curse that has been embedded in them from years of guilt tripping from the Mothers. The good news is, it can be fun. No seriously, following the top tips below you’ll soon begin to the see why so many people love it. De-cluttering and having a good old clear out can really make you feel better. But don’t take our word for it, try it for yourself!

The day before. Mentally prepare.

1. Take 5 minutes to sit down and think of just how beautiful your home will be. Make a list of things you’d really like to achieve. Focus on all the broken toys being thrown away, old clothes being given to charity, old catalogues finally making room for new ones. Think of all the nice compliments you’ll get from people admiring just how clean your home is. Then get a good nights rest because the next day’s going to be a combination of hard work and elbow grease.

2. Arrange in advance for the kids/ dog/spouse to either commit to helping or to get out of the house for the day. If you’ve got a couple of friends who don’t mind helping out - give them a call.

3. Stock up on cleaning products, clothes, air fresheners, loads of black bin liners, Charity bags, recycling bags, buckets, mops, vacuum cleaner and duster. An apron is optional. But I do recommend you wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty- just think you can throw them our later anyway.

4. Download your favourite tunes into your IPOD, or get a radio out ready for the next day. Music helps the day go past quicker and can distract you from what your doing. It will motivate you to keep going.

The day has come.

1. Start with a huge breakfast to give you the energy you will need.

2. Start at the top of the house and work your way down.

3. If you have kids helping, assign them to their rooms. That’s their area of expertise. Give them bags to fill for charity- old toys, clothes etc. And a black bag for the bin. Sorting out the bulk comes first, the cleaning comes second.

4. Throw away anything you haven’t used/ worn/ looked at in the past year.

5. Align books, change sheets, organise paperwork, shred old bills, clear masses of space. Move couches to clean underneath them, wipe down windows, wash curtains, wipe down walls - everything in every room should have been cleaned by the time you finish in the room.

6. Once you’ve de-cluttered it will be easier to see if you should re-arrnage the furniture. You may even feel the need to re-arrnage kitchen cupboards- if your needs have changed from when you first did them. Re- organizing things makes you move them around, so you’re more likely to clean the space underneath.

7. if you find you don’t have enough storage, take a look at places like IKEA or Argos, they offer great storage solutions. Once you’ve got a place to put everything, it will be much easier to organise.

8. Let the kids jazz up storage boxes with stickers or pictures to help them remember what goes in which box.

9. Once every-thing’s put away, you can begin cleaning. Dust first as it will save you going over things twice.

10. When vacuum shake some nice smelling fragrance on to carpet to give it a fresh smell.

11. Install some air fresheners around your home, to help it smelling clean and fresh.

The day after.

1. Treat your self to some new accessories such as cushions or a new bed cover just to reward your efforts and to keep you motivated to keep it clean.

Job Done!

How to care for wooden floors

To make sure your wooden flooring retains it’s natural beauty here are a few cleaning tips to follow:

• Remember- the direr the better- always clean with a well wrung out cloth or mop length ways. Move along the planks not across them.
• Floor mats are a great way to stop build up of dirt in entrance areas. But don’t use rubber backed or non-ventilated mats or rugs as they may damage your floor. Instead use mats or rugs made especially for hardwood floors, remember to shake them out regularly.
• It’s also a good idea to place mats in any area where water may be splashed, such as near a sink.
• If sand or dirt does get inside a groove, try to remove it immediately with a sift broom, vacuum cleaner or clothe.
• Sweep regularly with a soft brush or vacuum to keep the surface looking clean and dust free. Once all the dirt is gone, give it a good buff and watch how it shines.
• Do not use anything other then recommended wood specific products on it - you can buy them from us - just ask our Sales Team for more information (01727 800 313).
• Floorell’s wooden floors are finished with a ready-to-use treatment, but we do recommend that Solid wood oil treated floors should either be treated with maintenance oil according to the instructions directly after installation and before use, or alternativley, treated with wood soap according to the instructions directly after installation and before use.
• it is inevitable that you will get the occasional scuff or mark on your floor boards. a hardwood floor cleaner is useful in removing them (Just ask our sales Team about our range). Simply spray some cleaner on a cloth and lightly run the stained area. Sticky spots can be cleaned with a damp towel or sponge.
• As tempting as it is, do not use ammonia cleaners or oil soaps on a wood floor. They will dull the finish and affect the performance of your floor. It will also affect the ability to re-coat your floor later.
• Wood naturally expands when it is wet so you must never, ever wt the mop excessively. Large amounts of wood can cause the wood to swell and may cause your floor to crack or splinter.
• Being a natural product, hardwood will expand and contract due to moisture level changes. So always have a cloth handy to clean up spills as soon as the happen.

These are just are few ideas on how to keep your wooden flooring looking great. To see our full range of natural stone, wood and porcelain flooring visit us at www.floorell.co.uk