Hardwood floors are timeless, elegant, and add a touch of natural beauty to any home. Regular cleaning is a must to ensure its longevity. Unlike other types of flooring, hardwood floor needs special maintenance to avoid damage and preserve its gorgeous beauty. In this article, we’ll give you a thorough explanation of how to clean hardwood floors so they stay spotless for years to come.
Putting aesthetics aside, it’s safer and healthier for you if floors are kept clean. A slight layer of dust or filth can make wood floors slick and dangerous for falls. Asthma and other breathing problems are brought on by a buildup of dust and mites.
When should you clean your Hardwood floors?
Wood floors should be washed, vacuumed, or dust mopped every day to maintain the finish, and spills should be cleaned up immediately afterward. Depending on how frequently the floors are used, you need to perform an intensive cleaning once a week or once a month.
Few steps to Shine Up Hardwood Floors and Clean Them
The most important thing to decide before you start cleaning is whether your floor is solid hardwood flooring, engineered hardwood flooring, or laminate flooring with a wood-look wrap. Though they have extremely similar looks, laminate requires different upkeep than solid or engineered hardwood. The same cleaning routine can be used on solid and engineered hardwood floors; nonetheless, laminate should never be cleaned with hardwood floor cleaners since the oil and wax in the rules could dull the surface’s shine.
The cleaning supplies for Hardwood Floors
You can use a variety of cleaning tools. The ideal tool for brushing up dust and crumbs from hardwood floors while avoiding further damage is a broom with soft bristles. Nylon or rubber can be used to make the bristles. Both types of bristles are charged with static and work to pick up particles. Grab the built-up dirt with a trashcan or hand vacuum.
Compared to cotton or sponge mops, microfiber mop heads are far more successful at attracting dust and are simple to wash and maintain. You can use a vacuum on hardwood floors, but to avoid scratching them, pick one with soft-bristle rollers and a retractable beater bar. To get to the room’s dusty corners, use the microfiber brush attachment.
1. Daily sweep or vacuum
On a daily basis, sweep or vacuum the floor to get rid of the dirt and debris that can scratch the floor’s finish. Regularly clean the surface of the rug’ and its undersides. Scratches should be removed as soon as you see them.
Tip
It is recommended to have two microfiber mops: one with finer threads for moist mopping and another with denser fibers for dry mopping to collect dust. A mopped floor is always cleaner.
2. Act on issues as they arise
You should not let any dry messes or liquid spills that can leave water rings sit on hardwood floors for longer than a few minutes. This is crucial for mud and other substances that are dark in color and can leave stains that are difficult to remove. Give the floor a last “rinse” with a cloth or mop that has been slightly soaked with water after wiping up the spill with a paper towel or cloth. To avoid flecks, wipe against the textured surface of the wood.
3. Periodic Dust Mop
Dust mop wood floors at least once a week to remove any extra dust particles that seem to appear overnight.
4. Damp Mop During Seasons
It should only be necessary to damp mop with a product to clean a few times a year. If you have been rapidly cleaning up spills and keeping the floors clear of dirt and dust. Never use a mop that is dripping wet. Too much water can damage wood floors and cause the flooring to buckle.
To prevent spotting, lightly moisten a microfiber mop, sweep the floor while maintaining the wood’s natural grain. Let the floor completely dry before stepping on it. If you are in a region with hard water, use distilled water to damp mop the floor. Hard water’s excessive mineral content can make floor finishes seem dull
According to a proverb, cleanliness is next to godliness. To be more safe in the near future, we should start to clean safely. The hardwood floor is not something that can be changed so quickly. So, we must be careful with our usage and cleaning process.
Photo by Steven Ungermann on Unsplash
Photo by Steven Ungermann on Unsplash