How to Clean and Maintain Hardwood Floors
Beautiful hardwood floors dress any house with grace and lasting beauty. With the proper maintenance, such flooring materials can survive for decades while still keeping their natural gloss and warmth. However, hardwood does require meticulous attention to ensure it looks its best and damage is avoided with time. For those in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle cleaners can be an excellent resource for professional maintenance and deep cleaning services.
In the comprehensive guide below, we detail everything about cleaning and maintaining your hardwood floors. From daily maintenance to deeper cleaning and preventative measures, the following tips will help you keep your hardwood looking beautiful for the long term.
Routine Cleaning and Upkeep
The trick to clean hardwood floors is to develop the habit by making a routine of daily and weekly cleaning:
Sweep and/or vacuum regularly: Abrasives that wear the finish are hardened dirt, sand, and any other detritus on your hardwood. In high-traffic areas, it is desirable to complete a sweep every day and a vacuum once a week. Use a bare floor attachment when vacuuming. Be cautious of vacuum beater bars or rotating brushes that might scratch the floor.
Clean spills promptly: Do not allow standing water or spills to remain on the hardwood as this will cause staining and possibly swelling and damage. Use an absorbent cloth to soak up spills as quickly as they occur.
Add doormats and area rugs: If possible, place a placemat or small rug immediately in front of each entrance so that dirt and water are trapped before entering your home on your hardwood floor. Rugs and runners are great for high-traffic areas.
Please take off shoes: If possible, establish a "no shoe" policy to prevent as much dirt and scuffs as possible. If not, try not to walk on hardwood with high heels or cleats that can dent the wood.
Deeper Cleaning
Even if you are managing to sweep and vacuum, hardwood is occasionally going to require a deep clean. Here's how you can do it:
Choose the right cleaner: Only use those cleaners specially formulated for cleaning hardwood floors, with a neutral pH, to avoid stripping off the protective finish. Avoid acidic substances, such as vinegar, which dull the shine over time. At the top of the list would be Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner, Murphy's Oil Soap, or just a simple solution of a few drops of dish soap in a gallon of water.
Use a damp mop only: Saturating hardwood with water causes the fibers to swell and warp. So, instead, lightly mist your flooor with the cleaning solution or dip your mop in the cleaner and wring it out thoroughly. Your mop should be damp, not dripping wet.
Don't use a steam cleaner: The heat and moisture from steam cleaning can significantly affect hardwood floors—steam should be avoided even on sealed hardwood.
Immediately dry: In those instances when you damp mop, you will want to follow that with dry mopping with a clean microfiber cloth or mop in order to pick up any remaining moisture. Water should never be left standing on your flooring at any time.
Do the work in small sections: Clean one small section at a time, so the cleaner doesn't dry before you can wipe it.
Preventative Measures
Proper cleaning, but there are also some preventive measures to be maintained for your hardwood floors:
Furniture pads: Attach felt pads to the inside of the legs of furniture so that moving the furniture pieces does not cause scratches.
Trim pet nails: Regularly trim your furry friend's nails to help minimize screeching from scampering little paws.
Proper humidity retention: Hardwood is sensitive to moisture and may become wider or narrower when there is a change in humidity. Indoor humidity should be kept between 35% and 55%.
Shield hardwood from direct sunlight: Sun's UV rays can cause discoloration on hardwood in the long run. Use blinds, drapes, or sheers to fend off harsh effects of direct sun from hardwood.
Know your finish: Every type of finish on hardwood comes with its appropriate care requirements. Waxed floors, in most cases, can't be water cleaned but should instead be buffed and rewaxed. For specific instructions, you should refer to your flooring manufacturer's guidelines.
When to Hire a Professional
Your hardwood floors should last for years to always look beautiful with some routine care and cleaning. However, even the best-kept floors may need professional attention from time to time:
Refinishing: Once your hardwood looks dull, scratched, or worn, it is the correct time to sand and refinish that floor. During this process, an old finish will be taken out and a newly stained coat applied before resealing. This normally needs to be done every 7 to 10 years depending on wear and tear.
Repaired damage: Deep gouges, warping, or staining are best repaired by a professional. In many cases, localized damage can be repaired through board replacement and finish blending by a qualified refinisher.
Hardwood floors are a lifetime investment. Follow this how-to, and with regular cleaning and maintenance, your hardwood floors will look beautiful for years to come. Your floors will be grateful!
