Natural Flooring Care & Maintenance

Out of all the natural flooring fibers, Sisal and Seagrass are the easiest ones to take care of. Natural flooring does not attract dust and other debris like other materials can attract.

Dust and sand cannot damage natural flooring fibers compared to other flooring materials. Soil will seep through the flooring fibers rather than sit on the surface.

 

Minimize Exposure to the Sun

 
Natural flooring is usually made from yarns sourced from vegetables. These flooring fibers have the tendency to change colors after exposure to sunlight. It is common that some areas change color more than others because furniture might cover some parts of the natural flooring. You can rotate area rugs to balance exposure to sunlight, and you can rearrange furniture to redirect sunlight.

Regular Vacuuming

 
Vacuum your natural flooring regularly. Use is a strong brush with good suction will make sure dirt and debris which seeped in your natural flooring will be gone. A vacuum head with a beater type is not recommended because of the weave. Since dirt will not accumulate on the surface of the natural flooring, regular vacuuming will generally lengthen the life of your natural flooring and will help you get rid of soil buildup. This can also help eliminate the presence of stains which might have been dissolved over time making it invisible on the surface of the natural flooring.

Spray Clean your Natural Flooring

 
Natural flooring is hygroscopic which means it has the ability to give off and absorb moisture. Humidity is beneficial to natural flooring, but a certain level should be achieved. You don’t want to over-saturate your natural flooring because it might lead to changes in form and dimension. Wet shampooing, steam cleaning and any other procedure that requires the use of too much water is not recommended for natural flooring.

You should spray clean your natural flooring, by doing this you are exposing it to moisture, but not too much. If you are using a Sisal or Seagrass rug, it has the tendency to curl up at the edges. Apply a wet damp towel in curled areas, weigh it down and leave it overnight.

How to remove mold due to humidity

 
Seagrass natural flooring has the ability to grow mold. Since it is made up of a natural flooring fiber, the absorption of moisture and water is evident. Exposure to higher levels of humidity can lead to the growth of mold and mildew especially if the material in question is Seagrass. If you see signs of mold in your natural flooring you can mix one part of liquid chlorine bleach with six parts water and then take the mixture and put it in a spray bottle.

Test the mixture by spraying a small portion of the natural flooring, the flooring should not bleach from the chlorine. If it does, you need to dilute it with more water.

When you have created the correct mixture, spray it on your natural flooring and brush the solution lightly so that it penetrates the fiber. After 5-10 minutes, you can rub the area with a dry and clean cloth.

If the natural flooring is too dry

 
If your natural flooring is exposed to levels of low humidity or dry air, an application of water into the natural flooring will do wonders. You can apply water in the flooring by spraying water or damp mopping the whole area. The good thing about this dampening process is that it will get rid of the bubbling or looseness of the flooring fibers keeping it all intact and tight.

Sisal flooring has the tendency to dry easily. Be cautious to not over-saturate the natural flooring because this can lead to changes in form and fading of the carpet’s colors. Before you apply water or moisture in the natural flooring, you have to make sure that it is clean by sweeping or vacuuming.

Spots and Spills

 
When it comes to cleaning spots and spills, as with any other flooring, immediate action is necessary to prevent the spill from seeping inside the natural flooring. The spill should be removed by blotting the natural flooring with a dry and clean paper towel or if it has been dried up completely, it should be scraped by a dull knife.

Water-based Spills

 
For water and water based spills, immediately blot the stain before it seeps inside the natural flooring. You can also apply a thick layer of potato flour and leave it on overnight. The next day, you can vacuum it away off the natural flooring.

Grease and Oil Spills

If you have greasy and oily spots on your natural flooring, use an aerosol spot remover. Usually this remover contains traces of solvent and absorbing powder. You need to refer to the directions of the solvent in order to carry out the procedure effectively.

Wine Stains

 
To remove beer and wine stains from your natural flooring, use a dry cloth applied with a little wood alcohol. On the other hand, for oil-based paint you can use turpentine.

Last Resort

 
If for some reason, these tips and techniques do not do anything to your spill or stain, contact Contempo for a professional cleaning. We can use industrial methods to bring your natural flooring back to its original beautiful state.