Top 4 Reasons Why Your Kitchen Floor Gets So Dirty

A clean kitchen is a style statement. But what if the floor refuses to play along? Here’s how you can return the twinkle to your tiles.

A kitchen floor is a high-traffic area. This is the main reason why it constantly gets dirty. Other reasons include incorrect cleaning practises, high moisture levels, and natural causes like dust being swept in by the wind.

If you love a sparkling floor but cannot keep up with the dirt, then you are not alone. This is a very common frustration for homeowners. Here is how you can keep your floor cleaner for longer.

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This Is Why Your Kitchen Floor Gets So Dirty All The Time

There is no denying the satisfaction of a clean floor. But a kitchen floor seems to be a paradox. It does not have a carpet that collects dirt and the tiles or vinyl is quicker to clean than your carpeted living room. So why the heck is your living room lemony fresh while your kitchen looks like a dog that loves rolling in mud?

Here are the top 4 reasons why your kitchen floor refuses to stay clean.

1. The kitchen sees a lot of foot traffic.
2. High levels of moisture.
3. Incorrect cleaning practises.
4. Nature can also make your kitchen dirty.

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The Kitchen Sees A Lot Of Foot Traffic

Three times a day, families prepare meals inside a kitchen. Let’s not forget about traipsing into the kitchen to make snacks or tea. Most kitchens are also located in such a way that people often use it as an entrance to the home - including the dog and kids with their muddy feet. That is a lot of daily foot traffic!

The math here is simply - and a little disheartening. If you mop the floor six times a day, it is going to get dirty six times a day. Someone or Fluffy the muddy puppy is going to stroll over the floor and start the whole thing again.

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How Do I Keep My Kitchen Floor Cleaner For Longer?

• White or light-coloured flooring will show every speck of dirt. Consider getting a darker colour.
• Vinyl tiles are popular for a reason. They are easy to install, can endure a lot of foot traffic, and are quick and easy to clean.
• You don’t need expensive products, just get a good cleaner. Get rid of those that do not clean the floor quickly and efficiently.
• Do not use cleaning agents that leave residues. They attract dirt like magnets.
• Sweep the floor every day and mop it about three times a week. Don’t break your back over this chore. If you have small children, then you might have to mop every day to prevent them from picking up germs.

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High Levels Of Moisture

There are two ways that high moisture levels can mess with your kitchen’s sparkle.

1. High humidity or moisture levels in the air.
2. A sweating kitchen floor.

How High Humidity Can Affect Your Kitchen Floor

High humidity or moisture levels in your kitchen can be caused by a muggy day or all the steam from cooking and even ironing. When water vapour keeps piling up and has nowhere to go, it tends to cling to colder surfaces like tiles, taps, and even window panes. When your kitchen floor develops a wet film, it becomes a dirt-trap. Dust particles get stuck, footprints will be more obvious and the corners of the room will accumulate muck faster.

There are several ways to combat this problem.

• Encourage your kitchen to breathe. In other words, help the room to have better air circulation by opening the windows and doors.
• Invest in a dehumidifier for your kitchen. Here are the best mini dehumidifiersthat will fit right into the kitchen!

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How A Sweating Floor Can Affect Your Kitchen

When a floor sweats, it attracts dirt the same way as we just covered in the previous section. But what causes a floor to sweat? This is a builder’s mistake. When the floor was laid, the concrete was not allowed to dry out properly before being covered with wood or tiles. As a result, a large amount of moisture remains trapped in the concrete and eventually “sweat” through the floor’s surface.

Unfortunately, if this is the case, then the whole floor must be replaced. There is no fixing a sweating concrete floor.

Here are the top signs:

• The room or floor has a musty or mould smell.
• You notice mould or mildew on the floor.
• The floorboards are creaky and loose (or the tiles).
• There are clear wet spots or too much moisture on the floor.
• The concrete seems dark and moist when you lift the upper flooring.

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How Cleaning Can Keep Your Kitchen Dirty

What, no cleaning? Have we lost our marbles? Nope. Of course, nothing will stay clean on its own accord. But sometimes, incorrect products and mopping can make the problem worse. We mentioned a little earlier to avoid cleaning agents that leave residues because they are dirt magnets. Here are more tips to keep your kitchen floor cleaner for longer.

• While you can use warm water, avoid mopping with boiling water. The latter actually smears any grease you might have on the floor over a wider area.
• Clean food, liquid, and grease spills the moment they happen.
• When mopping your floor, always use a clean mop.
• During mopping, you might notice that your bucket of water is also looking dirty. The moment you notice that, exchange for clean water and also wash your mop. Otherwise, you are just smearing wet dirt all over the place.
• Do not use oil on wooden floors.
• Don’t wait weeks before mopping your kitchen. The more often you clean it, the less dirt there will be for you to clean.
• Invest in excellent cleaning tools such as sponges, mops, microfibre brushes, and cleaning products that keep floors cleaner for longer.
• Sweep the kitchen with a broom before you mop it. If you mop a floor directly, all the pet hair and dirt will get stuck in the mop and smeared over the floor.

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How Nature Makes Your Kitchen Dirty

Muggy days with their high humidity is not the only way that nature can ruin your floor. If you live in a dry area, a windy day can also deposit dust inside your home and kitchen. Critters like termites can also move in and make a mess when they start nesting. If there are leaks in the roof or window frames, then a heavy downpour can also make a mess on your floor.

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A Quick Summary On Why Kitchen Floors Get Dirty

• The kitchen floor is a high-traffic area, making it very easy to get dirty.
• Besides a lot of feet, other factors include nature, incorrect cleaning practises, and high levels of moisture.
• A regular cleaning routine can help to keep dirt accumulation low.

READ NEXT: 4 Reasons why kitchen floors are sticky after mopping.