Hardwood floors are a valuable feature that can add warmth and beauty to a home. The best way to make sure your floor will last is to take good care of them. Proper maintenance of hardwoods is essential, but not difficult. Simple routine cleanings are the best way to keep your floors looking great for decades. Learn the right methods to clean your hardwoods and what products to avoid that could damage them.

Regular Cleaning for Hardwood Floors

The main step in caring for hardwood floors is to clean them regularly. A daily sweeping or vacuuming is enough to remove the dirt and debris that has been tracked in throughout the day. Staying on top of this chore will help prevent build-up that can dull, scratch, or get embedded in the floor’s finish. Some people leave this job to a robotic floor vacuum, but a regular soft tip broom does the trick just as well.

Avoid using a vacuum with a beater bar and brush rolls on hardwoods because it will easily scratch the finish. Instead, opt for a soft floor attachment. Any spills that occur should be cleaned up right away to prevent water damage or grime accumulation in the seams of the floor. Disposable electrostatic cloths or a microfiber mop works great to quickly lift away dust.

Mapping Basics for Hardwood Floors

When a more thorough clean is required, grab a microfiber or hardwood floor mop lightly dampened with a neutral pH cleaning solution. Always avoid using products intended for cleaning vinyl or tile flooring and stick to ones that are specified for hardwoods. Also, never wet mop hardwood floors because it can damage the wood or discolor the finish. Move in the direction of the wood grain and make sure to quickly dry up any wet spots that occur. It is important to follow the cleaner’s instructions and some flooring manufacturers will have certain products they recommend using. There are a variety of hardwood cleaning products to choose from including natural or chemical solutions.

Natural and DIY Cleaners

Natural hardwood floor cleaners are a great option for an environmentally friendly home. These simple and effective products cut through grime and restore a floor’s luster without any harsh chemicals. They can be bought as premade solutions or made as a DIY mixture. A common household item that is often used as a hardwood cleaner is white vinegar. All you need to do is add one part vinegar to ten parts warm water and get to work with your lightly dampened mop in the direction of the wood grain.

Commercial Cleaners

Commercial hardwood cleaners make it easy to effectively clean your floors. There are many products on the market today that are great for maintaining hardwoods. Some cleaners may come in spray bottles for spot cleaning or as concentrated solutions that can be diluted for damp mopping. There are also squirt mops available from companies like Bona, Libman, and Swiffer. Commercial cleaners for hardwoods are a good option because they have specific formulas designed to thoroughly clean while protecting the floor’s finish. However, it is still important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid any issues that could arise from misuse or with the wrong finish type.

Deep Cleaning

When regular cleaning and mopping isn’t enough to restore your floors glow, you may want to consider a professional hardwood floor cleaning. At Artisan Wood Floors, we offer deep cleaning services that will eliminate dirt and contaminants while protecting your floor’s finish. With our auto scrubber and specially formulated cleaning solutions, floors will be refreshed and look like new. For more information, get in touch with us at (215) 515-7355 or
info@artisanwoodsllc.com.