Do’s and Don’ts for Cleaning Hardwood Floors

Hardwood adds beauty and cosiness to a home, but maintaining it requires the right techniques. With some tips on proper cleaning methods and things to avoid, you can keep it looking its best for years.

Knowing the do’s and don’ts outlined in this article makes the process straightforward instead of daunting.

Don’t: Avoid a Wet Mop

Using a mop completely drenched in water is not a good idea to clean hardwood floors. You want to minimise the absorption of water in the wood as much as possible.

Too much water can cause unwanted warping issues in the long run because the wood tends to expand with the water.

Puddles or excess liquid sitting on the surface increases the chances of water marks forming on the wood as well.

To protect the material, it’s best to avoid flooding the floors with water that takes forever to dry fully.

Do: Dampen the Mop

You want to avoid over-wetting the mop head when mopping hardwood floors. Dampening it just slightly is all that’s needed.

This method helps remove any dirt or particles that sweepers or vacuums missed. Besides, your best bet is a microfiber mop, thanks to its softness, which will not leave any markings on the floor.

You simply need to immerse the mop’s head in cool water and start squeezing out any excess so it’s just lightly dampened.

Then, wipe the floorboards with consistent, extended motions to clean without over-saturating the porous hardwood surface.

Don’t: Use a Stiff Broom

Hard brooms with rigid bristles should not be used on hardwood floors. The stiff bristles are prone to causing minor scratches that collectively damage the floor’s look through regular use over extended periods.

Those tiny lines add up to dull the natural lustre of your floors. Harsh bristles are also more likely to flick dirt away as you sweep, ending up embedded inside the wood.

Do: Sweep with a Soft Broom

To sweep hardwood floors safely, it is important to select a broom with flexible, soft bristles that are designed for hard surfaces.

Microfiber or bamboo-bristled brooms are ideal for this because they have super-fine hairs that pick up the tiniest dust particles effectively.

As you sweep, scoop the debris directly into a dustpan in the direction of the wood’s grain without spreading it around.

Pushing down on the broom with excessive force is unnecessary. A gentle sweeping motion is all that’s required to efficiently remove everything without risking damage to the floor.

Do: Blot Quickly

It’s best to attend to liquid spills on hardwood floors right away rather than letting them seep in over time. Be prepared by having paper towels or cleaning cloths handy since accidents do occur.

For fresh spills, place a towel or cloth over the wet spot and press gently without rubbing. Keep blotting until fully absorbed.

On the other hand, for dried stains, slightly wet the towel with warm water before placing it on the mark and blotting.

This helps lift out set-in blemishes without saturating the porous hardwood surface.

This technique protects the longevity of your hardwood floors. Spills can often be completely treated by taking quick action.

Don’t: Apply Baking Soda or Vinegar

While helpful for various cleaning tasks around the house, baking soda and vinegar should not be used for wooden surfaces.

They can cause significant damage over time. Specifically, baking soda is deemed too harsh since it can slowly sand away the protective coating of hardwood.

On the other hand, vinegar has a high acidity level, so prolonged contact runs the chance of deteriorating the wood grain. Vinegar can also cause streaking on wood surfaces that is difficult to completely remove.

Do: Choose a Suitable Cleaner

There is no need to potentially compromise hardwood floors by using the wrong cleaner. In order to completely protect the floors, make sure you know how to choose a compatible cleaner.

Look for the ones specifically designed to clean wooden floors, ideally with a pH range between six and eight. Cleaners within this balanced level are less likely to cause harm.

Additionally, you need to avoid any cleaner that contains harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia. These strong elements could potentially destroy the flooring surface.

Selecting a gentle, wood-friendly cleaner provides the safest cleaning approach.

Don’t: Steam Clean Your Hardwood Floors

Although steam cleaning is a popular method of floor cleaning, it is not the most effective method for hardwood floors.

There are a lot of risks associated with the high heat and moisture content, including possible warping.

Subjecting wood to high levels of steam carries risks of distorting its shape and structure. This not only applies to steam floor cleaners, but also steam mops.

The heat makes wood expand, and the moisture lingering afterwards allows mould and mildew to grow and set it below the surface. This causes damage to the wood fibres over time.

Furthermore, steam can make its way through deep inside the wood, so you will not have any control over where moisture sets in.

It can easily seep between the boards and wreck the floor from below, where you can’t see the harm being done.

When To Contact Expert Cleaners

Hardwood floors provide beautiful visual appeal while signifying an important financial investment in one’s home. Their care requires special attention to maintain their quality.

For those uneasy about cleaning them, using professional cleaners is a good alternative.

As part of their cleaning routine, they will thoroughly clean your hardwood floors with precision and efficiency.

The cleaners are well-trained and will know the techniques and cleaning solutions to use for every type of floor.