You don’t want to do more harm than good by incorrectly cleaning your wood floors. Whether it’s your friend or your mother, providing advice can be tricky because results may vary.
Nobody wants to inflate another person’s ego or leave them worse off than they were in the first place.
The best thing you can do is provide them with tips on how to proceed, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do here.
A wood floor is beautiful, but if it’s not maintained properly, it can be damaged and ruined. If your hardwood floors need a good cleaning, here are some tips for keeping them looking their best.
Put Down Some DIY Floor Protectors
If you want to protect your hardwood floors from damage caused by furniture and other items, try putting down some DIY floor protectors. You can use rubber or yoga mats to keep things from sliding around on the floor.
If you have pets or small children who are likely to play on the floor, consider putting down rugs near doors and other areas where they might run into something sharp or heavy.
Try a Microfiber Pad for Dusting Your Hardwood Floors
If you have dust bunnies on your hardwood floors and don’t want to use harsh chemicals to clean them off, try using a microfiber pad instead.
This type of pad is made from synthetic fibers and works by trapping dirt and debris in its nap.
Wipe the pad across the floor’s surface before vacuuming up all the dust and dirt with your vacuum cleaner later.
Use The Right Cleaning Solution
The key is finding the right cleaning solution for your wood floors. Wood floors are different from other types of flooring because they’re porous and absorbent. This makes them more prone to damage from moisture and chemicals, which can cause swelling and warping over time. To prevent this from happening, look for cleaners labeled “safe for all hardwood floors,” these products are made specifically for use on wooden surfaces without damaging them or leaving behind any residue or stains.
Dry-Mop or Vacuum (Without the Beater Bars)
The best way to clean your floors is by vacuuming or sweeping them with a dry mop instead of wet mopping them with water or liquid cleaners. This will help protect the finish and prevent damage from the moisture buildup that can cause mold growth underneath the finish layer, which would require stripping and refinishing your wood floors completely.
Get Out the Big Guns with A Steam Mop
A steam mop is an excellent tool for cleaning your floors without any chemicals. A steam mop can help remove dirt and grime between deep cleaning sessions if you have hardwood or engineered wood flooring. It’s also great for sanitizing between cleanings because it uses hot water instead of harsh chemicals that can strip away oils and dull your floor’s finish over time.
Never Use Oil Soap or Ammonia on Your Floors
Some people like to use oil soap or ammonia on their floors because it gives them a deeper shine and makes the floor look cleaner. However, this is not true! These products can damage your floors by creating a film on top of them, which will cause your floor to look duller over time and eventually damage the finish on your wood floors. If you have a wood floor that needs shining up, stop using these products immediately and switch to something else that won’t harm your flooring.
Try a Natural Floor Cleaner
You need to use a natural cleaner to clean your wood floors effectively. The best way to do this is with a dust mop. Wood floors are porous, so they can absorb chemicals from cleaning products. Using harsh chemicals on wood floors can damage the wood’s finish and make it look not very interesting over time.
You should also avoid using abrasive materials like sponges or brushes when cleaning your floor, as they can scratch off the floor’s finish and leave marks behind on the surface of your wood flooring. If you need something more powerful than water to remove dirt and grime from your flooring, try using vinegar instead!
Vinegar has many benefits for home maintenance projects. It naturally cleans without leaving behind harsh odors or streaks that may otherwise stain surfaces such as glass windows or mirrors, although it does smell pretty bad.
Don’t Wax Your Hardwood Floors Unless They’re Severely Scratched or Pitted
Waxed floors can look great, but it’s important to know that waxing makes them more susceptible to scratches and gouges. And if a scratch extends down into the wood grain, you’ll have a permanent scar. Hardwood flooring is also much harder than most furniture, so don’t drag furniture across the floors when wet, you could scratch the finish or break your furniture’s legs off.
Pick Up Spills Quickly
Spills and stains are inevitable. To minimize damage, try to blot up spills immediately with a dry cloth or paper towel rather than allow them to dry and absorb into the wood. Use an oil-based solvent cleaner formulated specifically for hardwood flooring for larger spills such as juice or wine that have already dried in. This cleaner dissolves oil-based substances rather than just spreading them around, as dish soap would do.
Get Scratches and Nicks Out with A Stick, Or Apply Coloured Furniture Wax
If you have scratches on your floor, try using a stain stick that matches the color of your flooring. If none match perfectly, try applying colored furniture wax; it works just as well.
If you have nicks in your flooring caused by furniture legs or pets jumping up on furniture, rub some furniture wax and buff off any excess with a dry cloth afterward.
This will fill in any grooves or holes left behind by these imperfections so they won’t be visible anymore.
Work In Sections When Cleaning Hardwood Floors
You should always work in small sections when cleaning hardwood floors because they are very absorbent and can become damaged if water is left on them too long.
When working in large areas, it’s easy to miss spots or leave behind excess water that could damage your flooring over time. You will also have a better chance of spotting stains before they set in too deep and become impossible to remove later.
Place Floor Mats at Every Entrance
Most people don’t think of it, but cleaning your wood floors is a two-way street. Not only do you need to keep them clean, but you also need to prevent dirt and grime from getting into your home in the first place. The easiest way to do this is by placing floor mats at every entrance of your home.
This will help prevent dirt and grime from entering the house, which can help keep your flooring looking great for longer periods.
You Can Use a Quick Dust Mop In Between More Serious Cleanings
These are ideal for picking up surface dust and dirt, which is all you need to do for most surfaces. They’re also great for getting into corners and along baseboards without bending over too much.
Make sure you pick up dirt before it dries, or it will become difficult to remove later.
Use An Old Toothbrush for Those Hard-To-Reach Spots
Corners and edges can sometimes collect dust and dirt that you can’t reach with a regular mop or your vacuum cleaner and are too narrow for any other tool you might have handy.
If there is anything spilled on your wood floors, use an old toothbrush with soapy water to scrub off any stains or spills on the finish’s surface layer. This should eliminate most marks without having to go through the trouble of stripping down the finish entirely, which requires specialized equipment.
Know The Warning Signs
If you see scuff marks on your wood floors or the finish is dulling or peeling off, it’s probably time for professional help.
These issues could mean problems with how your floor was installed or that it’s badly damaged underneath its surface layer of finish. If this happens, you may need to replace the entire floor instead of simply refinishing it.
Consider Hiring Professional Wood Floor Cleaners
If you want your wood floors to look their best, consider hiring a professional to do the job for you. Professionals know what products will work best on your particular type of flooring, and they will know what cleaning techniques to use.
Hiring professionals also takes all the guesswork out of cleaning your floor, and no more trying out different products or methods until you find what works best, you just need to figure out which one to hire.
In a Nutshell
Cleaning a wood floor should be done regularly, whether you appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship inherent in a finely finished hardwood floor or not.
A well-maintained floor will protect your investment, and it should last for years and years to come. You can simplify this process with the tips we’ve outlined.
The process may seem daunting initially, but with proper maintenance and professional care, your wood floors will last for years.