Fix it

Senso ‘Essential’ 3m wide vinyl sheet in Sherwood Clear, $58/linear m, I/N: 0228977‡

Cleaning and maintenance

Hold the floor

Whether you’re looking after tiles or timber, carpet or vinyl, these top tips will get your place glowing from the ground up

What’s the best way to get sad-looking floors like new again? Read on for advice on cleaning and caring for the most popular types of flooring. Vinyl collection Denise Retallick of Gerflor (Senso) says, “Vinyl flooring is by far one of the easiest types of floors to maintain. Scuff marks, dirt and grime will effortlessly wipe away with any pH-neutral cleaner.”

However, decades-old vinyl flooring that’s sustained heavy wear might need to be replaced. Consider self-adhesive vinyl planks which are easy to install and very hardwearing – and in the unlikely event you manage to gouge or scrape one, there’s a simple solution: “Using a hair dryer, gently warm the damaged plank for several minutes, then prise up the edge with a utility knife until you can grab it,” says Denise. “Then just remove the plank and replace it with a new one.” }

Timber finishes Dirt and sand can scratch a solid timber floor, so the top tip is simply to vacuum or sweep with an electrostatic mop. “These floors are best vacuumed weekly, as dust, dander and other allergens can work their way into the cracks between floorboards,” says Craig Knighton of Vax.

You can also use a damp but thoroughly wrung out mop – microfibre flat mops are better than sponge or string ones here. Check your cleaning product is pH-neutral and not spirit or solvent based, avoid abrasive or concentrated detergents, and never use scourers or steel wool.

Minor scratches in floorboards can often be touched up using a tinted wax crayon. You can also try a touch-up pen or buff- and-polish fluid. If there is a deeper scratch or ding, but the damage is not extensive enough to justify refinishing the whole floor, a timber touch-up kit might save the day.

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1 Oates 350mm dust control mop with extension handle, $27.50, I/N: 4481353. 2 Sabco ‘XL Total’ microfibre mop with antibacterial wet pad, $40.65, I/N: 4480228. 3 Long Life timber floor cleaner, $10.50/1L, I/N: 4460500. 4 Waxstix ‘Timbermate’ touch up crayon in Mahogany, $6.55, I/N: 1580209. 5 Cabot’s touch up pen in Walnut Brown, $10.30/10ml, I/N: 1520532. 6 Gilly’s scratch cover in Dark, $21.95/100ml, I/N: 1851553. 7 Timbermate timber touch up kit in Mixed Colours, $32.29, I/N: 1560008. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered. 8 Winton ‘Ideal Series’ 457mm x 457mm self stick vinyl tile in White Marble, $96/pack of 16 (3.34sqm, $28.74/sqm), I/N: 6600045. 9 Senso ‘Prime’ 305mm x 305mm vinyl tile in Slate Anthracite, $24/pack of 11 (1sqm), I/N: 8916167†. 10 Senso ‘Urban’ 914mm x 152mm x 2mm self-adhesive vinyl plank in Whitetech, $59.18/pack of 16 (2.2sqm, $26.90/sqm), I/N: 6600075. 11 Kinchrome magnetic folding utility knife, $27.95, I/N: 5760297.

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EXPERT TIP

Avoid using a steam mop on solid timber flooring, as heat and moisture may cause the boards to deform and compromise the coating

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Any members of the household who are sensitive to allergens should steer clear while carpets are being vacuumed

Magic carpets Vacuuming is the best way to keep carpets clean. “A weekly vacuum would be fairly typical, but the frequency also depends on the amount of foot traffic or whether you have pets at home,” says Craig Knighton. Not just for in-between cleans, a cordless yet powerful handheld vacuum is a handy tool for tricky areas such as stairs and tight spaces. Clean spot stains using a specialist carpet stain remover, and once or twice a year, treat your carpet to a steam clean to wash out ground-in dirt; deep cleaners are available from the Hire Shop.

Floating floors As with solid timber flooring, abrasion from soil and sand particles is damaging to both engineered and laminate-type floating floors. Engineered floorboards have a thin layer of real timber under the surface, so they can be sanded and refinished like solid floorboards, giving you an opportunity to reverse any damage. Laminate floors don’t have this timber layer and can’t be fixed the same way.

Clean them using a damp (but not saturated) mop, or simply vacuum once a week, keeping the vacuum’s brush in the ‘up’ setting. Laminate floors are particularly sensitive to moisture, so wipe up any spills immediately. If something gets stuck on, use a plastic or wooden spatula to gently remove it; never use a scouring pad or metal implement.

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1 Vax ‘Power 7 Pet’ barrel vacuum cleaner, $197, I/N: 4610135. 2 Vax ‘Blade Pet’ cordless handstick vacuum cleaner, $249, I/N: 4610168. 3 For hire: Britex carpet cleaner, $38.60/24 hours, I/N: 5450012‡ . 4 Britex ‘Spot N Stain’ stain remover, $8.95/500ml, I/N: 4500003.

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7 Cabot’s ‘CFP Floor’ polyurethane in Clear Satin, $42.40, I/N: 1521362. 8 Feast Watson ‘Floorclear’ classic floor finish in Satin, $45.90/1L, I/N: 1524970. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

A rough patch Sometimes, only a small area of a timber floor is scuffed – for example, near a doorway or breakfast bar. Try wiping a damp cloth over the worn area. If this makes it temporarily blend in with the rest of the floor, you may be able to get away with a patch refinish instead of a full sand-andstart-again. Choose a clear timber finish in the same sheen level as the rest of your floor; polyurethane and oil-based finishes are often better for this task than waterbased products.

5 Glitz Green cleaning vinegar, $2.74/2L, I/N: 4460483. 6 Karcher ‘FC5 Pet’ hard floor corded cleaner, $399, I/N: 0106502.

Tip-top tiles Tiled floors can hold a surprising amount of dirt and sand. “This is especially true if you live in a dusty area or have pets,” says Craig. As with other hard floors, vacuum weekly, then give them a solid clean by mopping with a solution of water and white vinegar; often vinegar makes ceramic tiles sparkle more brightly than chemical cleaning solutions, and it’s also gentle on the environment.

Stone tiles tend to need more frequent cleaning, so a microfibre power cleaner can be an effective way to save elbow grease. Only use mild solutions such as water with dishwashing liquid to avoid damaging the sealant.

If they do become damaged, tiles can be difficult to repair. A cracked tile will need to be removed and replaced, which is fiddly but achievable for a confident DIYer. If you’re laying new tile floors, hold back a few spare tiles in case of future accidents (see below). ◆

Watch it!

Learn how to fix damaged floor tiles: bunnings.com.au/replace- a-broken-floor-tile