26 Jun Best Practices for Cleaning Your Hardwood Floors

Hardwood continues to be the flooring of choice and while the material adds value to homes, the flooring can be a bit tricky to maintain. You can’t treat hardwood like laminate or luxury vinyl. It’s a good idea to place mats or rugs at entrances to aid in preventing the dissemination of dirt, debris and small stones that can be tracked in that can cause considerable damage to a hardwood floor.

Sweeping

It’s best to use a broom or microfiber dust mop daily to prevent dulling and scratching. A microfiber dust mop helps prevent scratching and can be treated with an anti-dust agent to eliminate dust and debris. Heavy foot traffic areas should be damp mopped twice a week to remove particles that present a scratching hazard.

It’s a good idea to go over the floor with a microfiber cloth first, even if you intend to use a vacuum on the floor. Be very careful when using a vacuum. Be sure the brush is off and raise the height of the foot to prevent scratching.

Mopping

Moisture is the enemy of hardwood floors. The best option is one of the newer mops with disposable microfiber pads. They use a pre-mixed container of a cleaning formula designed for hardwood floors. The mops typically dispense a small amount of cleaning solution at a time that won’t saturate the floor. Pre-moistened wet pads are also available and made specifically for hardwood floors.

Stay away from DIY home mixes for cleaning hardwood floors. Any cleaning solution containing vinegar will damage the finish on hardwood. If you’re going to steam clean your hardwood floors, be sure it’s done with a steam mop that’s designed for hardwood flooring. Steam dulls hardwood. Never let moisture from any source remain on the floor. Remove any excess promptly with a microfiber cloth.