Please click the links below for more information on each of our products.  ♣  Carpet                        ♣ Cork ♣ Laminate                     ♣ Vinyl     ♣ Ceramic                  ♣ Hard Wood
	HINT OF THE MONTH   A new vinyl floor is a wonderful investment in any home. Vinyl flooring is durable and long-lasting and can take much more of a beating than most other flooring choices. But that does not mean that you do not have to perform some maintenance on it. If you don’t, even the hardiest of vinyl floors can start to show wear. Even though cleaning is a big chore, caring for your vinyl floor does not take much effort on your part. With just a few good choices in accessories and cleaners, you can easily keep your vinyl flooring looking just as good as the day that it was installed   Cleaners - Depending on the manufacturer of your floor, there may be a specific floor polish that they recommend you use. It is always best to use this brand, ask one of our Floor Specialists for advice. Any non-abrasive floor cleanser will suffice, as long as it has no paste wax or solvents in it. If you use cleaners with paste wax or solvents with any of these, you risk scratching or dulling your floor, perhaps irreparably. Also avoid cleansers with soap, since these do not dry well and can cause the floors to be slippery even after they dry. After awhile, no matter what cleanser you use, your floors may show some dulling. If this is the case, warm water mixed with ammonia (use measurement directions on the ammonia bottle) will usually strip the floors of the dulling cleanser residue without damaging them. Mop - A soft cotton or cloth mop is best, since these will not scratch or scrape the floors. When mopping, be sure that if your mop has a metal or sharp edge of any kind that you do not let this scrape the flooring. If it does, it can cause large indentations that can eventually crack and lead to a larger tear. A dust mop is also good if you do not own a vacuum or prefer not to use it. A dust mop is similar to a regular mop in look, but functions more like a broom. It is soft and will not scratch, making it an excellent tool for maintaining your floor. Vacuum - You should vacuum your vinyl floor often. But not all vacuums are appropriate for this type of flooring. If your vacuum happens to have a beater bar on it, you can do lots of damage to your floors. Never use a beater bar when vacuuming your vinyl floor. Scrubbing tools - Never use abrasive tools on your vinyl floors.  This can scratch them up permanently. Also, anything made of wire or with wiring in it (including copper scrubs or SOS pads) are bad for vinyl surfaces. The best thing to do if you need to scrub a spot on your floors is to use mineral oil (or turpentine for paints or dyes) and a soft cotton cloth. With a little elbow grease you can clean up any stain quickly without damaging the tiles. Metal Casters - Many tables and chairs have metal casters or rollers on the bottoms. Though these are not advisable, sometimes it is unavoidable and you must use them. If so, check to make sure they are in good condition so they won’t damage the vinyl. If you must use them, the double-wheel types of rollers are best for this type of tile.   Mats - Many people use mats at door or entryways into rooms with vinyl flooring. This is a great idea, because they keep dirt and abrasives like sand or other debris from causing damage. However, beware of mats with color. If there is dye in the cloth or rubber bottoms to these mats, they can start to stain your vinyl floor over time. Always check mats before you buy to ensure that they are colorfast. It should say so on the label. If they are colorfast, then they will not bleed and permanently stain your floor. With the right types of accessories, your vinyl floor will last many years. If it is new, you can use these products to keep it looking new. If it is older, these products will help you maintain it, and prevent any old damage from getting worse. The most important thing is to read the labels and know what you are buying before you use it on your floors. This will prevent costly mistakes that will shorten the life of your new (or old) investment.