Be careful to choose the right method for your floor

It also helps to have some idea of how old the floor is before you start.  That way, you won't have to worry about accidentally ruining the floor by using the wrong cleaning products.  Depending on your floor, some cleaning methods are definitely going to be better than others.

No matter what you're cleaning, though, make sure you pay attention to what cleaning products you're mixing.  Better yet, don't mix any cleaning products together - the only mixing you should be doing is with water in case you need to dilute what you're cleaning with.  The reason for this is that some of the chemicals in cleaning products can become dangerous if mixed.  Mixing chlorine products with ammonium products will produce chlorine gas, which is very harmful if breathed.

If you have a wood floor, you need to find out what it has been treated with.  If the floor was treated with polyurethane, then you can feel free to mop it at will.  Water will not damage this floor unless you leave puddles of it behind for long periods of time.  However, if your floor was treated with anything else, you should never use water to clean it.  You should clean these floors with a solvent-based cleaner or polish.

Another common floor type is laminate or linoleum.  This type of floor is fairly easy to keep clean as long as you have treated the floor well at first.  If you wax your linoleum, then it will be easier to clean - and the floor itself will be resistant to dirt and scuff marks from shoes.  After the floor has been waxed, you can easily clean it by sweeping or doing a quick mop job.

If you have a carpet, then the easiest way to keep it clean for normal everyday use is to vacuum over it.  You should do this once a week for high traffic areas, or any time your carpet looks dirty.  If there is a spill or larger mess, then it should not be too hard to take care of.  Just use a standard carpet cleaner and you should be able to take care of the stain.