Tile floors:
Try a steam cleaner. I saw one used on a 1970s kitchen floor and it was amazing to see the dirt that came out of that floor. And the steam was gentle enough for that old floor! I researched the best floor steamers and spent quite a while on various product review sites. We were ready to purchase the one we thought got the best reviews and a relative told us not to buy that one and she recommended the one that works the best in her opinion. She said to get the Shark Professional Steam Pocket Mop Model S3601. It works on both tile and hardwood.
Hardwood:
Try a steam cleaner. See above for the brand. The customer and product reviews state that you go more quickly over a hardwood floor and don’t have the setting that leaves water/moisture behind. If your hardwood floors are not sealed with polyurethane well, you may get water damage from the hot steam. Proceed with caution. Always read the manufacturer’s warnings.
Carpets:
Vacuum every week, twice a week if you can squeeze it in. It’s a good idea to use small carpets/welcome mats at the doors to your home so dirt gets stopped on the mat and not brought into the house. Clean those small carpets/mats regularly. If they can go through the washer/dryer, awesome! Just be careful not to wash them with clothes if the carpets have dyes that will bleed on your clothes. Been there.
Keep carpet spot stain remover at hand and treat stains immediately. Switch rugs around and vacuum under them occasionally. And it’s important to clean/sanitize carpets once or twice a year but check for color fastness first. Rent a carpet cleaner if you don’t have one or don’t have lots of carpets and don’t need to own one.
