How to clean hardwood floors without damaging them
If someone have been to question you how to clean up hardwood flooring, you would photograph a mop and bucket, proper?
Essentially, there’s a ton much more to it than that. Relying on your floor form and complete, the greatest products and strategies will vary. For occasion, you may have one of the very best vacuum cleaners, but that vacuum cleaner could in fact be scratching your flooring.
Do not worry: Below we will consider you as a result of the ideal approach to clean your hardwood flooring, step-by-step. So you don’t will need to be concerned about creating damage as you clean up — moreover, you can be expecting streak-absolutely free outcomes. Here’s how to clean up hardwood floors.
How to clear hardwood floors
What you can expect to need
Microfiber mop or broom
Vacuum cleaner
Tricky floor cleansing alternative
Wooden ground polish or ground wax (optional)
1. 1st, pick every little thing up off the flooring and move any hurdles out of the way, this sort of as chairs. It is a great idea to test that no one particular is likely to will need obtain to the area ahead of you clean it, also — the very last point you want is pawprints dried into the complete!
2. Upcoming, pick up any instant dust utilizing a microfiber mop these types of as the Turbo Microfiber Mop Flooring Cleaning Process ($39.95, Amazon) or a dustpan and broom. Do the job your way all-around the overall ground, staying sure to attain under home furnishings and into the corners. This is all you need to do for gentle everyday cleansing.
3. If you’ve acquired heavier debris scattered all over, these kinds of as crumbs and dry mud, then it is time to split out the vacuum cleaner. Ahead of you jump the gun, make sure you use the really hard floor placing, or increase the brush bar manually — this will end it from most likely scratching your floors.
It’s also really worth examining out the wheels on your vacuum cleaner plastic can scratch, although if they are rubberized they will be kinder to your flooring. You could alternatively use one particular of the most effective robotic vacuums to help save you the time and work of this stage.
4. Now that your floors are clear of debris, following occur the mop and bucket. After yet again, a microfiber head style is suggested. You will need to use a really hard-floor cleaning resolution — comply with your flooring manufacturer’s guidelines about which brand name of cleaner to use.
H2o by yourself can destruction specific hardwood flooring as it can swell and discolor the wood, so resist this urge. The mop head ought to only be moist, not sopping soaked, and be geared up to rinse it routinely. Avoid leaving standing water on the ground, specifically if it is prefinished wooden.
If you want an easy way to implement the tough-flooring cleaning answer, some flat mops come with created-in dispensers, such as the Bona Hardwood Ground Quality Spray Mop ($37, Amazon).
Do not use a steam cleaner until your flooring maker advises it as these can damage hardwood flooring. You should also be cautious about electric powered vacuum mops as most are only suited on sealed floors — all over again, test with your flooring producer for advice.
If you want to use a all-natural cleaner, such as vinegar merged with h2o, you really should also examination this on an inconspicuous location first, as vinegar can dull and damage the floor.
5. Segment off each and every place as you mop so you really do not pass up any parts, and contemplate exactly where you will be remaining standing the moment you have finished cleaning — you never want to corner by yourself and end up walking in excess of your freshly cleaned flooring.
6. Now you want to support the floor dry as quickly as attainable. You have a number of possibilities right here: You can leave home windows and doors open up to ventilate the space, you can change on the ceiling enthusiasts, or you can go more than the floor with a refreshing and dry microfiber fabric.
7. If you want to go the total 9 yards, you can also apply wooden flooring polish or ground wax when the floor is dry to far better seal and shield it in the upcoming. This also adds a awesome glow.
Bear in mind that you should really only do this every single couple yrs, or as normally as the manufacturer endorses. You also shouldn’t wax laminate-wooden floors or engineered hardwood. Verify with your maker if you’re doubtful. We advocate the Rejuvenate Professional Wood Flooring Restorer and Polish ($21, Amazon).
How frequently ought to you thoroughly clean hardwood floors?
You should give the flooring a brief dust or a sweep as normally as doable — if it’s a large-traffic place, dust at least a pair of periods a week. Vacuuming your hardwood floors is recommended weekly. It is essential to preserve up this regimen as rogue stones that are carried in by footwear and animals can effortlessly scratch the flooring.
We suggest mopping your hardwood floors as generally as important, though every a few to 4 weeks is very best exercise. You will need to wax or complete your flooring significantly a lot less often this only demands to be done each several many years.
Suggestions to hold your hardwood flooring clean up and undamaged
- Clear away sneakers — It appears like popular feeling, but make confident footwear are taken off at the door. Positioning a mat on the within of your door can also help to gather any particles that will make it by.
- Really don’t use the brush bar — Make certain your vacuum is established to difficult ground cleaning and the brush bar is elevated. This is to prevent it from scratching your ground as it vacuums.
- Secure your flooring — Invest in rugs and protective pads to go under your home furnishings legs. That way you will not end up leaving scratches when you go the home furniture.
- Choose up a spill as rapidly as probable — Never go away a refreshing stain to set on your hardwood floors, this will only make it a lot more tricky to take out afterwards.
- Keep up your cleaning program — If you do not now, get into the routine of cleaning and sustaining your hardwood flooring. They will past more time and glimpse superior for it.