Cleaning Your GAIA Floor

Spills and splatters are inevitable, but quick action can protect your floors. As soon as a spill occurs, use a damp cloth to wipe it up. This simple step prevents moisture from seeping into the seams and causing damage. Quick cleanup also helps avoid stains, maintaining the pristine appearance of your hard surface flooring.

Consistent maintenance is crucial for preventing dirt buildup, which can damage the finish of your GAIA SPC flooring over time. Here's what you should do regularly:

• Sweep with a dust mop to pick up dust and debris.
• Use a vacuum with an appropriate hard surface attachment.
• Avoid vacuums with beater bars, as they can scratch or damage the floor. Regular sweeping and vacuuming are especially important in sandier areas, as dirt particles can act like abrasives on the surface of your flooring.

For more challenging stains like oil, paint, lipstick, or ink, it's essential to use a pH-neutral luxury vinyl cleaner or plain pH-balanced water. Apply the cleaner to a white cloth and gently scrub the area until the stain is removed. Once the stain is gone, wipe away any remaining residue to keep your floors spotless.

When cleaning your floors, it's important to avoid liquid products that contain harsh chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, chlorine, or "mop & shine" products. Stick to pH-balanced cleaners designed explicitly for hard surfaces. Using the wrong or excess amounts of cleaning products can lead to:

• Warping
• Swelling
• Decontamination
• Joint-line separation

These issues could void your flooring warranty, so it’s critical to use the right cleaning agents.

If you live in an area with a lot of sand or dust, your floors may require more frequent cleaning. Sweeping or vacuuming more often will help prevent abrasive particles from scratching your floor’s surface.

Excessive moisture is one of the biggest threats to SPC flooring. Here are key moisture-related tips:

• DO NOT mop the floor with water or cleaning solutions that leave puddles. Avoid using steam mops or letting liquids pool on the floor, as this can lead to warping and other moisture-related problems.
• Avoid steel wool pads or other abrasive tools when dealing with tough stains. These can scratch the surface and affect the appearance of your flooring.

If you're dealing with a stubborn spill, such as candle wax or gum, freeze the substance by placing ice over it. Once hardened, gently scrape it off using a plastic scraper, like a credit card. Afterward, wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.