How to Clean Hardwood Floors Like a Pro in 6 Simple Steps

How to Clean Hardwood Floors Like a Pro in 6 Simple Steps

Once you come to a decision to switch wall-to-wall-carpet or laminate flooring with gorgeous wood floors, you have to find out how to clear hardwood flooring to continue to keep them in tip-top rated shape. Sure, a easy run with a microfiber mop and cleansing option is the principal component for the longevity of these glossy surfaces. But that does not always work for all forms of messes and grime.

As well as, there’s a stunning catch when it comes to the ideal wooden floor cleaning routines: You “don’t want to use everything that states it’s going to polish, or shine, or rejuvenate, or revitalize the wood ground,” claims Brett Miller, vice president of specialized requirements, schooling, and certification at the Countrywide Wood Flooring Affiliation. Sounds like counterintuitive tips, but these cleansing answers are actually developed to gussy up wooden flooring for the limited time period only. “It’s placing something on that surface that’ll make it very for a short time period of time, but it’s not made to dress in,” Miller describes.

To get the whole rundown on how to clear hardwood floors—it doesn’t matter if your residence is sporting solid, engineered, or reclaimed wood—Advertisement also consulted Mark Whatley, output manager at Bay Space retail showroom and contracting corporation Amber Flooring and Tommy Sancic, proprietor of Olde Wood, a custom made antique reclaimed and broad plank flooring maker in Magnolia, Ohio.

In this article, pro cleaning ideas on what it takes to keep the wooden ground luster with out detrimental the end.

What is the greatest thing to use when cleansing hardwood flooring?

When it arrives to picking a cleansing product or service for a deeper clean, there isn’t a difficult-and-speedy rule. Various finishes involve different therapies, so experts relying on merchandise suggestions for the wooden end.

When in doubt, go back again to the fundamental principles. For a Do-it-yourself hardwood flooring cleaner, combine 4 cups of warm drinking water with a couple of drops of Murphy Oil Cleaning soap. You can also give your cleaning program a dose of aromatherapy with a mandarin and peppermint essential oil-primarily based Koala Eco Flooring Cleaner.

Some recommend a selfmade cleansing answer of water and white vinegar, but others discussion no matter if making use of acid to floors is really savvy, due to the fact it can probably boring the floor over time.

What should you not place on a hardwood ground?

While previous-fashioned, inexpensive cleansing answers are tried-and-legitimate go-tos, it is also protected to say there are cleaning products and solutions to generally steer clear of. Steer clear of chlorine bleach, even if it is diluted, because it can weaken the composition of the wooden. “I don’t advocate any type of harsh chemical to clean any hardwood floor,” Sancic claims. “Chemicals used to the finish will develop hazing.” Floors with a polyurethane finish can truly seem a lot more cloudy since of wax buildup. To treat hazing, a clear cloth dipped in heat water is a simple way to take away that cloudy film. If you can, use a damp microfiber cloth.

How do you clean up hardwood floors yourself?

Stage 1: Sweep hardwood floors day by day

The very first and foremost hardwood ground cleansing tip is to sweep. Dirt and grime buildup prevent wooden floors from shining. “Keeping debris off the flooring is key,” Miller says. Not only will the messes appear filthy, but sweeping can assistance reduce injury. Believe about it as the demise of a thousand cuts, other than for your flooring space. Even pet hair has the likely to problems wooden floors, so it is ideal to be proactive. “If there is a piece of debris on a wooden flooring, and you stroll across, it is like sandpaper on the bottom of your shoe. It can destroy or scratch that floor,” Miller provides.

Sweep daily, if possible. Then, follow up with a dry mop, or dust mop, to choose up remaining dirt. A microfiber mop will also assistance preserve the luster. If you can’t sweep the complete house just about every day, goal to hit substantial-targeted traffic areas, like entryways or hallways, as usually as feasible. This straightforward cleaning plan could ensure that the wooden floors will have much less scuffs.

Action 2: Vacuum on a regular basis

In addition to sweeping, you should really vacuum consistently. This will enable choose up any high-quality particles that sweeping alone could overlook, and the solid suction of a vacuum cleaner is excess helpful to pull up dust and debris in cracks, crevices, and between planks. 

Just make certain that you’ve turned on the difficult ground location, which turns off the brush roll or beater bar, to avoid scratching. You could also use a flat attachment to shield the flooring from bristles. The the past point you want to do is scuff the ground as you clean.

Step 3: Mop hardwood floors

Yes, as lengthy as it is accomplished properly and without the need of excessive h2o. When you have located the ideal wooden ground cleaner, use it on the floors with a moist mop. What you really do not want to do, however, is overdo it and allow standing drinking water to pool on the wooden floors. “You never want to carry out a moist bucket and get started soaking the flooring, due to the fact that’ll trigger the wooden to swell,” Miller states. 

To stop too much drinking water, decide for a microfiber mop as a substitute of a cotton mop, as the previous necessitates much less water—and won’t depart you with a dripping damp mop. In point, according to Bona, a around the globe market chief in hardwood flooring treatment, microfiber mops use about 20 instances fewer liquid, producing them the ideal mops for the career. You are going to also spend considerably less time striving to wring out the mop head, building it a gain-earn for you and your wood flooring.

Miller advises from using steam and a steam mop. Although it could supply a deep clean up for wooden floors, it makes it possible for vapor to enter compact areas and destruction the floors in your residing area.

Action 4: Deal with scratches in hardwood floors

Vacuum bristles, grime, and even pet hair can all cause scratches—and of program nearly anything else that you may well observe into high-visitors places. To a homeowner, these scratches and scuffs can mess up even the finest hardwood ground. “It’s section of owning a wooden flooring,” Miller suggests. Think of minimal scratches as incorporating to the character of your residence. If you do want to resolve surface scratches, it is a reasonably uncomplicated Diy undertaking. Just use a stain marker from a wooden home furnishings contact-up package. A wax adhere also will work for deeper dents.

For a additional really serious task, choose a stain to match the coloration of the wood flooring. Then, buff the scuffs by sanding the location with great-grit sandpaper. With a clear fabric, use a smaller volume of stain, and wipe absent. If essential, brush on a little amount of polyurethane to insert again the shine. Just make positive to use the exact end. Minwax, for instance, has a method that has the two stain and polyurethane in a person product.

If you merely just cannot stand the thought of scratches in the flooring, devote in an region rug or doormats to defend the floor surface area and include personality to the house.

Step 5: Preserve hardwood floors

Understanding how to clear hardwood flooring isn’t the only point to contemplate when it will come to immaculate wooden flooring. The ecosystem that surrounds your floor is also a major component of their care and toughness. Wooden reacts considerably to temperature and humidity, so it’s vital to have an understanding of these features much too, even if they are out of your management. “The nice issue about wood is that it is a organic solution, so it’ll inform you if it’s not delighted,” Miller explains.

Your ideal line of defense is noting pink flags. If there’s much too considerably moisture on, around, or under the wooden, it will cup. Eradicate the supply of the drinking water, in particular any standing h2o, to end this from transpiring. Exceedingly dry disorders induce gapping, cracking, and splitting. “Adding a very little humidity to the air will allow for the ground to settle back again down. It’ll make it pleased yet again,” Miller says. A humidifier like TruSens steps humidity readings in actual-time and ought to do the trick.

Move 6: Recoat hardwood flooring

When the ground is starting to have on down, it is time to step in and recoat. “A recoat does not involve sanding,” Whatley says. “It’s in fact applying yet another coat of finish to the best of the flooring to deliver back again the luster and everyday living of that end, so you really don’t have to go by means of the sanding process.” To recoat, 1st start by deep cleansing the floors, then buff (to allow adhesion), and implement a new coat.

This workout can extend a floor’s everyday living for a lot of a long time by incorporating a layer of safety just about every time it’s desired. There are lots of different flooring finishes on the sector, and the ideal selection for refinishing may appear down to the wants and requirements of your wooden flooring. “The natural beauty of wood flooring is that they can be fixed and refinished and recoated,” Miller suggests. “A whole lot of normal have on and tear can be taken treatment of on a wooden floor.” As soon as you have your new coat, you previously know just what to do for your hardwood floor cleaning plan.

Initially Appeared on Architectural Digest

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