How To Clean Brick Floor – Helpful Tips For You
Brick floors are known for being durable and easy to maintain. Anyone who uses them in their hallway or kitchen area can vouch for their functionality. But like any other kind of flooring, one has to clean them. Sealed bricks can be cleaned easily. However, they tend to trap moisture within them, which can be problematic. What experts recommend to remedy this is to partner your routine cleaning (done daily) with a more thorough cleaning (done at least once a month). It’s important that you follow the right cleaning method so as not to damage the bricks.
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So exactly how to clean the brick floor? Here is a guide according to expert brick cleaners.
What You Will Need
There’s only a little difference between cleaning a brick floor with that of other kinds of flooring. Thus, cleaning materials you need for it do not differ much from the usual. You might have all of these in your house already.
Option 1 - For Routine Cleaning
Here are the things that you need for your everyday cleaning routine:
Water
Water
You need this to cleanse the brick floor and remove any dust and dirt.
Vinegar
Vinegar
This is a strong cleaning solution that proves to be most effective when cleaning bricks.
Microfiber mop
Microfiber Mop
You can use normal mops, but microfiber mops can give you a better result. It can pick up dirt and dust better than synthetic and cotton mop.
Vacuum/Sweeper
Vaccum
A vacuum or a sweeper is a good cleaning tool to remove the most obvious dirt and dust.
Option 2 - For Thorough Cleaning
For thorough cleaning, you still need those you’ve used in your routine cleaning with the addition of the following:
Baking powder
Baking Powder
Like vinegar, baking powder is a natural cleaning solution. However, it can be used to remove stains that the vinegar solution can’t remove.
Brush
Brush
For a cleaner result, you need something that can remove stain and dirt better than a mop. That’s what a brush is for.
Washcloth
Washcloth
Since you are expected to have more time in thorough cleaning, you can dry the floor with the use of a washcloth.
Step-By-Step Instructions
As said, routine cleaning and thorough cleaning differ from one another. The latter will take you a lot more time. Thus, you should do it during your day off.
Option 1 - For Routine Cleaning
Step 1- Remove loose dust and dirt
Start your routine by removing all loose dust and dirt with a vacuum or a sweeper. Make sure that you cover the whole area. Don’t forget the corners or places near the wall. Don’t worry if you don’t manage to remove tiny specks of dust. You will be able to get them later.
Step 2 - Create a vinegar solution
To make a natural cleaning solution, take a bucket and pour water into it. For every 10-15 cups of water, add 1 cup of vinegar. Remember that the more vinegar you use, the more smelly the cleaner will be. So, don’t overdo it.
Step 3 - Start mopping
Get your microfiber mop and dip it into your cleaning solution. Once it is slightly damp, wring it completely over the surface. Don’t allow the water to sit on one part of the brick floor. Otherwise, you will leave streaks or spots once it dries.
When mopping the floor, make a back-and-forth motion. This will remove the grease and dirt more easily. Divide the floor into sections and follow a pattern when mopping. This will be convenient for you as you don’t have to dry the floor afterwards. While you’re working on other sections, you can leave those which are done to air dry.
Option 2 - For Thorough Cleaning
Step 1: Do your routine cleaning
Firstly, you have to do what you usually do. In other words, follow steps 1 to 3 of routine cleaning. This will take care of the less serious floor dirt problems.
Step 2: Look for stains
In thorough cleaning, you have to be able to remove even the smallest of stains. Scan your brick floor carefully and try to see whether there are stains or not
Step 3: Apply vinegar solution
If you spot a stain, apply your vinegar solution directly over it. Let the solution sit for a few minutes. Then, start scrubbing the area using your brush. If there’s a need to, you can reapply the vinegar solution.
Step 4: Rinse floor
Once the stains are gone, mop the floor with clean water. You can use a separate mop for this, or you can use the same mop you’ve used with your vinegar solution.
Step 5: Sprinkle baking powder
To neutralize the acidic effect of the vinegar, sprinkle baking powder on the affected spots. This way, you can avoid damaging the surface. Leave the baking powder in the area for 15-20 minutes. Then, mop the floor with clean water again.
Step 6: Dry the floor
Use a washcloth to dry your brick floor. This will remove any loose liquid that may be pooling in the surface of the floor. Doing this will also avoid smudges and streaks.
Helpful Tips
For more effective cleaning practice, you might want to follow these additional tips:
- Avoid cleaning your brick floor with strong soap and harsh acids as they will end up damaging it. Also, don’t use materials like sponge-based mop as brick flooring is caustic and hard and it will fleck the sponge into pieces.
- If you’re really in a hurry, the quickest way to clean your brick floor is by mopping it with clean water.
- You can prepare two mops, one for applying the cleaning solution and the other for drying, if you want.
- Wear rubber gloves when cleaning and creating the vinegar solution, so you will not damage your hands.
Wear Rubber Gloves
Final thoughts
Completing the process of cleaning your brick floor may take time, especially if it’s thorough cleaning. However, you’ll find that you’ll get satisfactory results if you use the right method to cleaning it. If you encounter stains or dirt in your floor that you can’t remove with vinegar or baking soda.
Leave a comment below and we’ll try to solve the problem together with you.
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