Hardwood floors are always in style, now seemingly more so than ever. However, the ideal look for hardwood is polished and gleaming, not tired, trodden and scratched.
Learn how to keep your hardwood floors clean and scuff-fee with proven methods that make caring for your flooring even easier. Keep reading to learn about the best tips for choosing the best wood floor cleaner, removing stains, and more!
Preventative Measures
Hardwood floors bring an earthy, warm beauty to your home. They’re durable and, with proper care, last for decades. The best way to clean hardwood floors starts with preventive measures, which not only help protect your floors, but also cut down on the time you spend cleaning them.
- In snowy or rainy weather, have a boot removal area to avoid damaging floors with water and de-icing agents.
- Keep a cleaning cloth or small towel tucked away next to the door to quickly clean up puddles on wood floors.
- Remove your shoes! Especially with hardwood floors, scratch-causing heels and cleats should be left at the door.
- Use floor protectors under furniture and add area rugs in play areas to ensure children’s toys don’t scratch the floor.
Keep reading to learn tips for cleaning wood floors to keep your home’s flooring in tip-top shape.
Cleaning Hardwood Floors During Your Regular Cleaning Routine
For a quick clean, dust wood floors with a mop that has been treated with a dusting agent to pick up dust, dirt, and pet hair that might scratch the floor surface. The best mop for hardwood floors should have a microfiber head. This material is designed to trap dust and grime. Some mops won’t require an extra cleaning agent! Follow the mop manufacturer’s recommendations for using wood floor polish or dusting sprays.
Don’t overlook vacuuming! For weekly or biweekly cleaning, vacuum with a floor-brush attachment. For quick dusting, use disposable electrostatic cloths.
Deep Cleaning Your Hardwood Floors
The best way to clean hardwood floors starts with preventive measures and routine cleaning, but sometimes a deeper clean is in order. Dirt, oil, and grime build up over time and can’t be removed by a weekly dusting.
We recommend deep-cleaning in the spring or just before the winter holidays.
- Use a wood floor mop and wood floor cleaning product diluted according to the label instructions.
- Saturate a sponge or rag mop in the water and wring it so it feels only slightly damp to the touch.
- Mop the floor, being careful to prevent standing water on the floor.
- If the cleaning product requires it, rinse the surface with a clean mop dampened in clean water.
- Wipe up excess liquid immediately. Standing water can damage wood surfaces.
Best Cleaners for Hardwood Floors
If you’re unsure about the best hardwood floor cleaner for your home, talk to your flooring manufacturer. They can often recommend a specific cleaner to use for their product. But if your flooring isn’t new, or you can’t consult the manufacturer, pick a product that is specifically made for cleaning wood floors. Don’t use vinyl or tile floor cleaners as these products might damage your floors. If you’re concerned about using harsh chemicals, look for hardwood floor cleaners that are Greenguard Gold certified, which means they’re safe to use in homes with kids and pets.
Cleaning Hardwood Floors with Vinegar
To clean wood floors naturally, use a common kitchen staple: vinegar. Using vinegar will save you money on top of providing a safe cleaning method for your floors.
- Clean wood floors with vinegar by adding 1/2 cup white vinegar to a gallon of lukewarm water. Follow the tips for how to clean hardwood floors with a mop, above, to prevent water damage. Then use vinegar to naturally clean the rest of your home!
Note: Vinegar can dull certain hardwood flooring finishes, so always test your solution in a small spot beforehand.
Thinking of getting hardwood in your home? Call 844-Refloor today and let our expert design consultants guide you through the process! Contact us today.