The beauty that a hardwood floor brings to a home can be magical. Its look and value are timeless. Keeping them in great shape can be challenging due to all the marketing of bad products and just a general lack of knowledge. It’s an obvious trend that we see illustrated on the floors we visit. That is why we have some Dos and Don’ts for cleaning hardwood floors!
1. DO NOT use straight vinegar or ammonia for cleaning hardwood floors.
Vinegar is a go-to for natural house cleaning. Once upon a time, it was highly recommended to clean hardwood floors. You can still find it recommended on Google. If you use straight vinegar for cleaning hardwood floors, you risk etching the surface because of its acidity level.
Ammonia might not seem dangerous after one-time use, but the disastrous results will show, eventually. This harsh chemical will dull, discolor, and even deteriorate the finish with repetitive use.
2. DO NOT use a steam cleaner for cleaning hardwood floors.
You may have heard of or maybe you even own a steam cleaner that works for carpet and hard surfaces. Do not use these on your hardwood floors. The polyurethane finish and hot steam will not mix well. The steam will cause cloudiness, cracking, and peeling.
3. DO NOT use a soaking wet mop to clean wood floors.
We get asked how often to mop wood floors… Wet mops are absolutely the #1 source of damage to a hardwood floor. Even though your floors might be finished, wet mops shoot moisture between the boards or cracks, causing the boards to expand. After that happens, no amount of sanding will fix the damaged boards.
4. DO NOT use popular cleaning products when cleaning hardwood floors.
No matter how much they market that a certain product will have your hardwood floors looking shiny and new, don’t buy it. Most products that are sold on the shelves of grocery stores aren’t good for hardwood finishes.
Many, if not most, contain wax (paraffin) that will buildup on your floors. While that might not damage the floors, it will leave them looking dull and hazy. The only way to remove the buildup is with professional cleaning. Some products will even damage the floors.
5. DO use preventative measures to keep your hardwood floors clean.
Encourage a no-shoes policy for all your floors. Beyond keeping the floors clean, you can avoid nasty bacteria from entering your home that causes viruses and diseases. Additionally, place floor mats by all entrances inside and out.
Use felt pads for the bottoms of your furniture. Even if your antique china cabinet does not move, the floor will still vibrate from walking and cause friction between the two surfaces.
6. DO use soft-bristled brooms and soft vacuum nozzles.
Hard bristled brooms and carpet brush rolls can scratch the surface of your finish. Instead, try a soft dust or microfiber mop.
7. DO use the right amount of water.
If your hardwood is looking particularly dingy, you can use a damp cloth or mop. Wring it out well so that there is no dripping water to avoid over saturation. Make sure no standing water is left and it dries quickly.
8. DO use the correct cleaning products if necessary.
Unfortunately, you will have to go on the hunt for the right cleaning products. Fortunately, we have the internet, making it easy to search and ship products from anywhere. You can even buy cleaning supplies that the pros use!
We suggest using cleaning products infrequently, as even the good ones can contain harsh chemicals that are unnecessary for regular cleaning. Some products that we recommend are Squeaky Clean, Bona products, and natural solutions that have a pH level of 7 or are matched to the cured poly. ALWAYS follow the manufacturers’ directions.
Bottom Line for Cleaning Hardwood Floors
We hope these suggestions help your floors look beautiful throughout the years! Keep in mind that dulling can be expected with any finish over time. It’s also important that you understand what type of finish you have. We wrote these guidelines referring to the common water or oil-based poly applications, but if you have a different type of finish, you might need to take that into account.
Is your finish looking like it might need a buff or recoat? Olmec Reflections is at your service! We offer a three-step wood floor cleaning and refinishing (wood floor restoration) process which effectively and efficiently restores scuffed, scratched, gouged, dull, and worn hardwood floors. Call or book online for a FREE consultation today!