Contact :
481 Harrisburg Ave.
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 397-5234
indoorcity@epix.net
Care & Cleaning
Care & Cleaning >> Tips

   

   

   

 
As your design and flooring experts, we also care about how you treat your floor and how it withstands every day use—from children, to pets, to visitors and high traffic. That’s why you should trust us to recommend only the best products for CARE and CLEANING, regardless of the floor or the brand.
 

 
GENERAL CARPET CARE and CLEANING TIPS

The lasting beauty of your carpet depends on a few simple and easy rules:
  1. Reduce Dirt Accumulation.
    Use walk-off mats at entrances to reduce outside dirt from being tracked onto carpet and clean mats weekly. Mats and runners will help reduce dirt buildup in heavy traffic areas (Caution: Latex backed runners may yellow carpet). Periodic relocation of furniture, if possible, will allow for a more even distribution of food traffic on carpets. Vacuum regularly to remove dirt/soil.
  2. Remove Spills Promptly.
    Anything spilled on carpet should be cleaned up promptly. Most spilled materials will stain or discolor carpet or can lead to increased soiling if not removed promptly. Time and patience are the keys to stain removal. Blot with a slightly damp sponge or dry, white paper towel. At Indoor City, we recommend using Shaw’s R2X Carpet Stain & Soil Remover spray treatment with a repellent and no need to rinse, or Carpetaid+ for older carpets. Both work very well in removing pet stains, wine, food spills and more.
  3. Prevent Contact with Household Chemicals.
    Warning: Many household chemicals may permanently stain or remove color from your carpet. Many household chemicals may cause permanent spots or stains on carpets and other dyed fabrics. Depending on humidity and temperature conditions, these spots may not appear until several days or weeks after exposure to the chemical. The presence of stain resistant properties in your carpet will not prevent certain household chemicals from damaging, discoloring, or removing color from your carpet. (i.e. acne medications, household cleaners, bleaches, pesticides, plant food).
  4. At Indoor City, we recommend using a basic cleanser like Capture Carpet Cleaning System, Deep Cleaning Powder. It absorbs allergens and breaks down stains, allowing you to have a healthier and cleaner home.
 
 
 
GENERAL TILE CARE and CLEANING TIPS

The lasting beauty of your tile depends on a few simply and easy rules:

  1. Seal Your Grout.
    After the installation of your ceramic tile, we recommend sealing your grout. At Indoor City, we carry and recommend a product called Grout Sealer (manufactured by Aqua Mix).
  2. Sealing your grout is quite simple.
    We usually recommend using a picnic-type ketchup bottle to make the sealer easier to apply. Run the sealer along the grout joint making sure to wipe off any excess sealer from the tile itself. Allow the sealer to dry for approximately two hours. Aqua Mix Grout Sealer lasts up to five years.
  3. Reduce Dirt Accumulation.
    Simply sweep or vacuum your ceramic tile floor (without a beater bar mechanism). We also recommend using Armstrong’s Once ‘n Done cleaning solution. Mix one capful of the solution into a bucket of hot water and then mop. Allow approximately ½ hour to dry.
  4. You May Need to Caulk your tile.
    If you have a ceramic tile whirlpool or back splash, it may be necessary to caulk your tub or back splash approximately six months after installation and possibly again each year. We carry colored caulk in our Indoor City store to match your grout.
 

 
GENERAL HARDWOOD CARE and CLEANING TIPS

The lasting beauty of your hardwood depends on a few simple and easy rules:

  1. Vacuum, Sweep, or Dust Mop.
    Once a week, vacuum, sweep or dust mop. The vacuum head must be brush or felt, and a wand attachment is preferable. Do not use vacuums with beater bars or hard heads. At Indoor City, we recommend Shaw Vibrant Mop with Microfiber technology to remove little particles of grit and dirt that can act like sandpaper on hardwood surfaces.
  2. Wipe Up Spills.
    Spills and tracked-in dirt should be wiped up immediately. For spot cleaning, we at Indoor City recommend using Armstrong’s Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner for spot and overall cleaning, no rinse and no residue formula. We also recommend Bruce’s Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner or Mohawk’s Floorcare Essentials: One Step Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner.
  3. Regularly Clean the Floor.
    Spray the floor cleaner directly onto the floor or on the mop cover. Be careful not to allow any excess cleaner to remain on the floor’s surface; this can be damaging to the fiber of the wood. NEVER CLEAN OR WET MOP WITH WATER. Water may permanently damage the floor. For a urethane floor, we recommend Bruce’s Urethane Touch-Up Fresh Finish for Urethane Finish Hardwood Floors.
  4. Area rugs are recommended in front of kitchen sinks, at all pivot points and within high-traffic areas. Do not use rugs with solid rubber or vinyl backings. The rugs must be made of a breathable material to prevent moisture entrapment.
  5. Use interior and exterior doormats at all entrances to collect dirt and moisture and prevent it from being tracked onto the floor.
  6. Never use any of the following products on your hardwood floor: ammonia-based cleansers, acrylic finishes, wax-based products, detergents, bleach, polishes, oil soap, abrasive cleaning soaps, or acidic materials such as vinegar. Many of these products can pit or etch the finish of your flooring or prevent the proper use of recommended maintenance materials.
  7. Keep animal nails trimmed to minimize finish scratches.
  8. Do not damage your floor with shoes having heel taps or sharp objects protruding from the sole such as rocks, exposed nails and gravel.
  9. Avoid walking on wood floors with spike or stiletto-heeled shoes. Spike shoes must be properly maintained to prevent damage from the steel heel support.
  10. Do not roll or slide heavy objects directly upon the floor. When moving appliances or heavy furniture, consider laying a solid protective covering on your floor and gently “walk” the item across it. Carpet or cardboard is not adequate to prevent surface compression scratches.
  11. Use furniture leg protector pads under all furniture and make certain to keep them clean and well maintained.
  12. Replace hard, narrow furniture roller with wide rubber rollers.
  13. Keep the relative humidity in your home between 33% and 55%.
  14. Protect your floor from direct sunlight. Use curtains and UV resistant film on large glass doors and windows. Move area rugs occasionally as they block sunlight and may give the appearance of discoloring under the rug.
 

 
GENERAL BAMBOO CARE and CLEANING TIPS

Bamboo maintenance and cleaning is quite similar to that of hardwood. See Hardwood Care and Cleaning above.
 

 
GENERAL VINYL CARE and CLEANING TIPS

The lasting beauty of your vinyl depends on a few simple and easy rules:

  1. Immediately after installation:
    1. For eight hours after seam application, protect the sealed seams on your flooring. This will ensure proper seam bond. If your seams are disturbed before they’re dry, permanent damaged may result.
    2. Maintain room temperature at 65 degrees F (18 degrees C) for 48 hours after installation in completed. This assures proper curing, setting and bonding of products.
    3. The adhesive under your floor needs time to thoroughly dry after installation. Therefore, we recommend that you do not scrub or wash your floor for five days.
  2. Proactive Protection for Your Floor:
    1. When moving appliances or heavy furniture, it is always wise to lay a plywood panel on your floor and “walk” the item across it. This further protects your floor from scuffing and tears.
    2. At Indoor City, we recommend using floor protectors, such as Armstrong Floor Protectors on furniture to reduce indentation. As a general rule of thumb the heavier the item, the wider the floor protector needed.
    3. Place a walk-off mat at outside entrances to reduce the amount of dirt brought into your home. We strongly recommend mats without a latex or rubber backing since these backings can cause permanent discoloration.
  3. Caring for Your Floor:
    1. Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove loose dirt which can scratch your floor. We recommend a vacuum without a beater bar. Additionally, we do not recommend electric brooms with hard plastic bottoms with no padding as use may result in discoloration and de-glossing.
    2. Wipe up spills as soon as possible. We recommend using Armstrong New Beginning Extra-Strength Floor Stripper on a clean white cloth for removing dried spills. Never use highly abrasive scrubbing tools on any floor.
    3. Wash your floor regularly. At Indoor City, we recommend Armstrong’s Once n’ Done No-Rinse Floor Cleaner, which again, is available in our store for purchase.
    4. Do NOT use detergents, abrasive cleaners or “mop and shine” products, which can leave a dull film on your floor.
    5. Over time, if the shine on your floor begins to dull, Armstrong Shinekeeper Floor Finish can be used to renew your floor’s shine.
    6. Allow time for drying after mopping. Vinyl flooring is dangerous and slippery when wet.
 

 
GENERAL WINDOW FASHIONS CARE and CLEANING TIPS

The lasting beauty of your window coverings depends on a few simple and easy rules:

  1. Regular Dusting.
    Regular dusting maintains a like-new appearance of most blinds, shades, shadings and sheers. For deep cleaning, vacuum gently with a brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner.
  2. Spot cleaning.
    Spot–clean shades and blinds with a soft cloth or sponge moistened with lukewarm water.
 

 
GENERAL RUBBER FLOORING CARE and CLEANING TIPS

The lasting beauty of your rubber flooring depends on a few simple and easy rules:

Proper protection and maintenance of ECOsurfaces post-installation should be specified by the architect or designer. ECOsurfaces products are not pre-coated with factory finish; therefore, they should no tbe subject to construction debris and potential damage caused from heavy duty construction activities. Recycled tire rubber made from
  1. Initial Cleaning.
    Remove all surface soil, debris, sand, and grit by sweeping, dust mopping or vacuuming. Scrub floor with a neutral detergent using a buffer or auto scrubber with a contact pad or soft nylonbrush. Pick up the solution with a wet vacuum, rinse with clean water and allow to dry thoroughly (6-8 hours).
  2. Finishing.
    There are two finishing options. First there is a vision matte for a low satin finish. Applying 2-3 thin coats of finish, buff finish into the flooring and allow it to thoroughly dry between coats. The vision star can be used for a high gloss shine with extra durability. Apply 2-3 thin coats of finish. Buff into the flooring and let it thoroughly dry between coats. Provide sufficient cure time of final coat before allowing foot traffic (at least two hours).
  3. Clean Daily.
    Sweep, dust mop, or vacuum floor to remove surface soil, debris, sand and grit. Damp mop or auto-scrub using a neutral cleaner. If the gloss needs to be restored, or for severe scuff marks, buff floor.
  4. Heavy Soil Cleaner.
    Sweep and dry vacuum floor thoroughly. Heavy scrub the floor. This cleaning may be performed with an auto scrubber or rotary scrubber. Vacuum soiled solution with a wet/dry vacuum. Allow floor to dry thoroughly. Apply two coats of either finish.
  5. Stripping Buffing.
    Stripping the finish is not needed until there is noticeable accumulation of dirt and contaminates embedded in the finish. Normally this accumulation occurs in hard to reach and highest traffic areas. Following a good maintenance program, applying thing coats of finish when the look calls for it and only where it is needed and will result in the little finish build-up, increasing the time between stripping. Sweep or vacuum to remove loose soil. Heavy scrub using a rotary scrubber or automatic scrubber with a black pad and stripper solution. Pick up the solution with a wet vacuum. Rinse with clean water, allow the floor to dry thoroughly. Apply the floor finish following the initial finish application instructions.
 

 
GENERAL LINOLEUM FLOORING CARE and CLEANING TIPS

Initial Care:
  1. Sweep or dust mop, or better still, vacuum the floor. We also recommend a microfiber duster.
  2. Damp mop the floor with a Linoleum floor cleaner at the correct dilution. At Indoor City, we recommend using Armstrong’s Commercial Floor Care System Floor Cleaner. It is appropriate for vinyl, linoleum, terrazzo, ceramic, concrete, and also brick. Because Linoleum is made from natural raw materials, harsh alkalis or high pH should be avoided. Do not flood the floor.
  3. Rinse the floor with a clean mop.
  4. Allow the floor to dry.
Regular care:
  1. Sweep, dust mop, damp mop and/or vacuum as needed. For ingrained dirt, a scrubbing sponge, (non-abrasive) or nylon brush is ideal.
Spots and Spills:

The vast majority of spills can be cleaned off your Linoleum floor. If the stain persists, as it may with glue, varnish, paint, ink tar, cosmetics, shoe polish, some wines, coffee and some other substances, the solution is to remove the surface finish and the stain with it. Apply undiluted cleaner to the stained area and leave it in contact with the floor for 2-3 minutes. Rub with a nylon kitchen pad. Then rinse with clean water. Once it is dry, apply a small amount of finish.
  1. Act quickly.
  2. Scrape or blot the mark as much as possible.
  3. Mop with diluted Armstrong’s Commercial Floor Care System Floor Cleaner.
  4. Damp mop with clean water.
  5. Repeat steps if necessary.
 

 
GENERAL LAMINATE CARE and CLEANING TIPS

The lasting beauty of your laminate flooring depends on a few simple and easy rules:
  1. Place mats in front of sinks, stoves, and at all room entrances – with one on each side of doorways connecting to the outside world.
  2. Place area rugs in high traffic areas.
  3. Place felt protector pads under furniture feet.
  4. Make sure chair casters are in good working order and kept clean.
  5. When moving furniture, lift it rather than pushing or pulling it.
  6. Maintain suitable temperature and humidity levels within the room.
    Note: many manufacturers recommend an average temperature of 72°F and an average humidity level of 55% to maximize the flooring’s dimensional stability.
The following is a list of generic cleaning steps and cautions to observe when maintaining laminate flooring:
  1. Regularly sweep, vacuum or damp mop.
    Note: only use a vacuum cleaner with a hard-floor attachment; when mopping, only use a lightly dampened mop – never wet mop or saturate the floor with water or cleaning products.
  2. Spot clean as necessary with a lightly dampened cloth or a manufacturer approved cleaning product.
    Note: do not use soaps, one-step floor products, abrasives, polishes, or wax; dry the floor thoroughly after damp cleaning.
  3. Wipe up spills immediately.
 

 
General Natural Stone Care & Cleaning Tips

General Cleaning:
  1. Clean stone surfaces with a neutral cleaner designated safe for natural stone. Use a clean mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results. (Do not use more than the recommended amount of any cleaning product.Too much may leave a film, causing streaks.)
  2. Change rinse water frequently. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble, travertine or limestone as these can etch the surface of the stone. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.
  3. Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness.
  4. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that can scratch a stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn, the metal or plastic attachments may scratch the surface.
  5. In the bath/ shower or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use.
  6. In outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas, flush with clear water and use a mild bleach solution to remove algae or moss.

Stain Treatment and Other Issues

If possible, immediately blot spills with a clean paper towel. If something has soaked into the stone and stained it, a poultice may need to be applied.


Do's and Don’ts for Natural Stone:
  • Do dust mop floors frequently.
  • Do clean surfaces with a neutral stone cleaner.
  • Do thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing.
  • Do blot up spills immediately.
  • Do protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs and counter top surfaces with coasters, trivets or placemats, particularly under those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface.
  • Don't place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.
  • Don't use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces.
  • Don't use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners.
  • Don't use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
  • Don't mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.
 

 
General Glass Tile Care & Cleaning Tips

Typically, glass tile is quite simple to maintain and clean because it cannot burn, it has no odor, it will not retain liquid or absorb smoke or fumes. Overall, treat your glass floor or wall as you wood your hardwood or ceramic tile.
General Cleaning:
  1. Use a soft towel or cloth to wipe the tile. Never use cleaners designed to clean stone since this may etch the glass in some cases. You may want to use a non-abrasive cleaner as well, but make sure it is always grout-cleaning compatible.
  2. A simple window cleaner such as Windex can also eliminate streaks.
 

 
General Metal Care and Cleaning Tips

With most metal tiles cleaning is just like cleaning ceramic tile.
  1. Clean your bronze, copper, zinc, or patina tile with a soft cotton cloth or sponge using warm soap and water or a gentle dish detergent.
  2. Dry immediately to eliminate spotting.
  3. Stay away from acidic or abrasive chemicals for cleaning for they will eat away at the metal tile and leave unwanted marks. Ammonia-based cleaning products will have the same affect as acidic or abrasive chemicals in which they will leave unwanted marks in the metal tile.
DO’s and DON’Ts:
  1. An old method used for cleaning metal tiles is the steel wool or scouring pad. Steel wool should never be used when cleaning your copper, zinc, or bronze tiles. A scouring pad if used incorrectly will damage the metal tiles by removing to much base material causing your metal tile design to change. Also the possibility of imbedding a foreign material into the tile is more likely.
  2. There are some areas of the home where metal tiles will need more maintenance than others. Metal tiles in general shouldn’t be used around pools, do to the chemicals present in the water. If metal tiles must be part of the pool area then a protective clear coating should be used to keep the metal tiles from detrimentally decaying. This also should apply to wet or dry saunas or fountains.
  3. When working with metal tiles in kitchen countertops we need to be aware of the foods that have high levels of acid such as juices, colas, and some cleansers. Most common in kitchens for metal tile is to be placed in the backsplash and not in the countertop. That’s not to say that it can’t be done, just that the up keep will be greater.
Most of your tile care will involve a soft cotton cloth or sponge with worm water and soap. Remember that metal tile like copper was used in the ancient time for its beauty and durability. Most owners of metal tile have used it do to the fact that over time its beauty increased do to use. Just remember to give metal tile time and it will give you an everlasting timeless look.
 
© 2007. All Rights Reserved