Surface Cleaning Guide

Surface-by-Surface Guide

Hardwood Floors

DO:

✓Dust mop or vacuum regularly
✓Use cleaner made for wood floors
✓Wipe up spills immediately
✓Use felt pads under furniture

DON'T:

✗Use excessive water
✗Use vinegar or ammonia
✗Use steam mops
✗Drag furniture across floors

Clean with: Wood floor cleaner or very lightly damp mop

Granite & Marble

DO:

✓Use stone-safe cleaner or dish soap
✓Wipe up spills immediately
✓Seal periodically
✓Use soft cloths only

DON'T:

✗Use vinegar, lemon, or acidic cleaners
✗Use abrasive scrubbers
✗Let liquids sit on surface
✗Use generic all-purpose cleaners

Clean with: Stone-specific cleaner or mild dish soap with water

Stainless Steel

DO:

✓Wipe with the grain
✓Use microfiber cloths
✓Dry completely after cleaning
✓Use stainless steel cleaner for polish

DON'T:

✗Use abrasive scrubbers
✗Use chlorine bleach
✗Let water spots dry
✗Use circular wiping motion

Clean with: Dish soap and water, or stainless steel cleaner

Glass & Mirrors

DO:

✓Use lint-free cloth or newspaper
✓Clean on cloudy days (prevents streaks)
✓Spray cloth, not the surface
✓Buff in a Z-pattern

DON'T:

✗Use paper towels (leaves lint)
✗Clean in direct sunlight
✗Use too much cleaner
✗Use circular motions

Clean with: Glass cleaner or vinegar-water mix (1:1)

Tile & Grout

DO:

✓Sweep before mopping
✓Use warm water and mild cleaner
✓Scrub grout with baking soda paste
✓Seal grout annually

DON'T:

✗Use oil-based cleaners
✗Let grout cleaner dry on tiles
✗Use colored cleaners on light grout
✗Use vinegar on unsealed grout

Clean with: Tile cleaner or dish soap. Grout: baking soda paste

Upholstery & Fabric

DO:

✓Vacuum regularly
✓Check fabric care code
✓Blot spills immediately
✓Test cleaners in hidden area

DON'T:

✗Rub stains (spreads them)
✗Over-wet fabric
✗Use bleach on colors
✗Skip the vacuum

Clean with: Based on care code: W=water-based, S=solvent, WS=either, X=vacuum only

Laminate Flooring

DO:

✓Dust mop or vacuum regularly
✓Use laminate-specific cleaner
✓Use damp (not wet) mop
✓Wipe up spills quickly

DON'T:

✗Use excessive water
✗Use wax or polish
✗Use steam mops
✗Use abrasive cleaners

Clean with: Laminate floor cleaner or vinegar-water (1:10 ratio)

Leather

DO:

✓Dust with soft cloth weekly
✓Condition 2-4 times per year
✓Keep away from direct sunlight
✓Blot spills immediately

DON'T:

✗Use water or wet cloths
✗Use all-purpose cleaners
✗Place in direct sunlight
✗Use heat to dry

Clean with: Leather cleaner and conditioner only

Quick Reference: What NOT to Use

Cleaner	Avoid On These Surfaces
Vinegar	Natural stone, cast iron, aluminum, egg stains
Bleach	Colored fabrics, stainless steel, wood, aluminum
Ammonia	Hardwood floors, natural stone, aluminum
Abrasive Scrubbers	Stainless steel, glass, non-stick cookware
Steam	Laminate floors, unsealed wood, delicate fabrics
Hot Water	Leather, silk, blood stains, egg stains

Surface-by-Surface Guide

Hardwood Floors

DO:

✓Dust mop or vacuum regularly
✓Use cleaner made for wood floors
✓Wipe up spills immediately
✓Use felt pads under furniture

DON'T:

✗Use excessive water
✗Use vinegar or ammonia
✗Use steam mops
✗Drag furniture across floors

Clean with: Wood floor cleaner or very lightly damp mop

Granite & Marble

DO:

✓Use stone-safe cleaner or dish soap
✓Wipe up spills immediately
✓Seal periodically
✓Use soft cloths only

DON'T:

✗Use vinegar, lemon, or acidic cleaners
✗Use abrasive scrubbers
✗Let liquids sit on surface
✗Use generic all-purpose cleaners

Clean with: Stone-specific cleaner or mild dish soap with water

Stainless Steel

DO:

✓Wipe with the grain
✓Use microfiber cloths
✓Dry completely after cleaning
✓Use stainless steel cleaner for polish

DON'T:

✗Use abrasive scrubbers
✗Use chlorine bleach
✗Let water spots dry
✗Use circular wiping motion

Clean with: Dish soap and water, or stainless steel cleaner

Glass & Mirrors

DO:

✓Use lint-free cloth or newspaper
✓Clean on cloudy days (prevents streaks)
✓Spray cloth, not the surface
✓Buff in a Z-pattern

DON'T:

✗Use paper towels (leaves lint)
✗Clean in direct sunlight
✗Use too much cleaner
✗Use circular motions

Clean with: Glass cleaner or vinegar-water mix (1:1)

Tile & Grout

DO:

✓Sweep before mopping
✓Use warm water and mild cleaner
✓Scrub grout with baking soda paste
✓Seal grout annually

DON'T:

✗Use oil-based cleaners
✗Let grout cleaner dry on tiles
✗Use colored cleaners on light grout
✗Use vinegar on unsealed grout

Clean with: Tile cleaner or dish soap. Grout: baking soda paste

Upholstery & Fabric

DO:

✓Vacuum regularly
✓Check fabric care code
✓Blot spills immediately
✓Test cleaners in hidden area

DON'T:

✗Rub stains (spreads them)
✗Over-wet fabric
✗Use bleach on colors
✗Skip the vacuum

Clean with: Based on care code: W=water-based, S=solvent, WS=either, X=vacuum only

Laminate Flooring

DO:

✓Dust mop or vacuum regularly
✓Use laminate-specific cleaner
✓Use damp (not wet) mop
✓Wipe up spills quickly

DON'T:

✗Use excessive water
✗Use wax or polish
✗Use steam mops
✗Use abrasive cleaners

Clean with: Laminate floor cleaner or vinegar-water (1:10 ratio)

Leather

DO:

✓Dust with soft cloth weekly
✓Condition 2-4 times per year
✓Keep away from direct sunlight
✓Blot spills immediately

DON'T:

✗Use water or wet cloths
✗Use all-purpose cleaners
✗Place in direct sunlight
✗Use heat to dry

Clean with: Leather cleaner and conditioner only

Quick Reference: What NOT to Use

Cleaner	Avoid On These Surfaces
Vinegar	Natural stone, cast iron, aluminum, egg stains
Bleach	Colored fabrics, stainless steel, wood, aluminum
Ammonia	Hardwood floors, natural stone, aluminum
Abrasive Scrubbers	Stainless steel, glass, non-stick cookware
Steam	Laminate floors, unsealed wood, delicate fabrics
Hot Water	Leather, silk, blood stains, egg stains

Key Takeaways

Surface-by-Surface Guide

Hardwood Floors

DO:

DON'T:

Granite & Marble

DO:

DON'T:

Stainless Steel

DO:

DON'T:

Glass & Mirrors

DO:

DON'T:

Tile & Grout

DO:

DON'T:

Upholstery & Fabric

DO:

DON'T:

Laminate Flooring

DO:

DON'T:

Leather

DO:

DON'T:

Quick Reference: What NOT to Use

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Tools

Stain Removal Guide

Cleaning Supplies Guide

Eco-Friendly Cleaning

Clean Every Surface Right

Surface Cleaning Guide

Key Takeaways

Surface-by-Surface Guide

Hardwood Floors

DO:

DON'T:

Granite & Marble

DO:

DON'T:

Stainless Steel

DO:

DON'T:

Glass & Mirrors

DO:

DON'T:

Tile & Grout

DO:

DON'T:

Upholstery & Fabric

DO:

DON'T:

Laminate Flooring

DO:

DON'T:

Leather

DO:

DON'T:

Quick Reference: What NOT to Use

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Tools

Stain Removal Guide

Cleaning Supplies Guide

Eco-Friendly Cleaning

Clean Every Surface Right