In a participant's home a timber floor has to satisfy two things at once. It has to be cleaned in a way that does not damage the finish, and it has to be safe to walk on the moment we finish — which means dry, and free of residue.
Our position on registration, stated plainly
3 Piglets Cleaning is not an NDIS registered provider. That means self-managed and plan-managed participants can choose us freely, and agency-managed (NDIA-managed) participants cannot. If you are unsure how your plan is managed, your plan manager or support coordinator can confirm it in a minute.
Why residue matters more here
Over-dosed floor cleaner leaves a film. On a timber floor that film is slightly slippery, it attracts soil so the floor dirties faster, and it builds up over months. In a home where someone uses a walking frame or is unsteady, a slightly slippery floor is not a cosmetic problem.
The order of work
Clear the walkway first
Nothing of ours in a path at any point — not the vacuum, not the cord, not the bucket.
Vacuum thoroughly
Grit scratches the finish and is also what makes a hard floor slippery underfoot.
Damp mop with a neutral cleaner
Correctly diluted. The floor should look dry within a minute of the mop passing.
Work toward the exit
So we never walk back across a floor that is still damp.
Dry it properly
Not left to air dry. This is the step that matters most in an NDIS or aged care home.
Put rugs and mats back flat
Edges lying flat, no curling, no rucked corners.
Rugs and mats on timber
A rug on a smooth timber floor without underlay can slide. A rug with a curled edge is a trip hazard. Both are worth mentioning to the participant or their contact rather than silently working around.
- Edges laid flat every visit
- Underlay checked if a rug moves easily
- Nothing left rucked or folded back
- Rug lifted and the floor beneath it cleaned on rotation
- Anything that cannot be made safe reported to the agreed contact
What we will not do
We will not use a steam mop on timber, will not use vinegar or alkaline all-purpose cleaners on a sealed floor, and will not leave a floor to air dry in a home where someone may walk on it before it finishes drying.
If the finish is already worn
Where a floor no longer repels water, we switch to dry methods and tell the participant or their contact, because mopping it will make it worse. Recoating is a flooring trade's job, not ours.
We provide NDIS cleaning support across Melbourne's eastern suburbs. If you would like to talk through what would work for you, get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
Why do you dry the floor rather than letting it air dry?
Because someone may walk on it before it finishes. In a home where mobility is a consideration, a damp floor is a hazard we would have created.
Will you tell me if my floor's finish is failing?
Yes. We will switch to dry methods and let you or your nominated contact know, because mopping a worn floor accelerates the damage.
Can you clean under rugs?
On rotation, yes. Lifting every rug every visit is rarely a good use of the time.
3 Piglets Cleaning
We are a Croydon-based cleaning company serving Melbourne's eastern and south-eastern suburbs. Our technicians are police-checked and fully insured, and those working with NDIS participants and older clients hold NDIS Worker Screening Clearances. More about us.
