Since the beginning of the year my 6-year-old has attended no less than 18 birthday parties. The majority of them were hosted by kids from her kindergarten class. Needless to say, I have seen the inside of many, many homes in the last 12 months. A few of them could easily be featured on MTV’s hit show “Cribs.” One in particular still stands out in my mind, and while it didn’t have a Gucci pool room or a helicopter landing pad in the backyard, it did feature amazing terrazzo floors. After drooling on them I asked the homeowner how she keeps them so clean.
Terrazzo is a durable material made of marble chips and concrete or resin. The composite has a smooth, luxurious consistency that can be used as flooring or countertops. It’s often called the “poor man’s marble,” but in my opinion, it is prettier than marble, especially the floors that have extra chips scattered on the top. You can even add mother of pearl or abalone shell to create an even more elegant appearance.
According to the homeowner I spoke to, maintaining the fancy floors is a breeze. Terrazzo floors should be swept on a regular basis to remove loose dirt, crumbs, and other debris. Meanwhile, you can use a dry mop to get rid of dust and larger particles.
For heavy-duty cleaning, use tap water or a neutral (neither acidic nor alkaline) cleaner and apply the mixture to the floor. Let the cleaner sit for a few minutes to dissolve dirt and then rinse with clean water. More than one rinse may be necessary if the floor is heavily soiled.
When cleaning terrazzo floors you should never use an oil-based cleaner, as oil can stain or permanently discolor the floor’s finish. Also, if you are planning to mop your floors with a commercial cleaner, even one specially formulated for terrazzo, it’s a good idea to test it on a hidden area before saturating your entire floor with it. Finally, you can cut down on your cleaning time by placing attractive rugs or other decorative floor coverings in high traffic areas.