How to Clean Hardwood Floors (Habits, Equipment & Products)
“Good habits and performing ongoing preventive maintenance are the best ways to keep your hardwood floors in the best shape possible”
-Walnut Hardwood LLC
How to Clean Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are one of the best ways to add a natural aesthetic to any living space. Of course, this is only true if they are kept clean.
Regular upkeep of hardwood floors is not difficult, but in order to maximize the lifespan of your investment it is essential to know the best methods, equipment, and habits necessary to clean a home’s hardwood floors. After all, improper maintenance can lead to permanent damage.
Walnut Hardwood LLC is a full-service hardwood flooring contractor based in Denver, Colorado. We are committed to providing our customers and neighbors with the highest quality information possible. For this reason, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide in which we explore the best habits, equipment and products for maintaining beautiful hardwood flooring.
If you’re looking for specific information, feel free to jump to any of these sections:
The Best Cleaning Habits for Hardwood Floors
Overall, simply having good habits and performing ongoing preventive maintenance are the best ways to keep your hardwood floors in the best shape possible. While neglected floors tend to accumulate dust and grime that can be difficult to remove, consistent cleaning can help prevent problems with your hardwood floors and save you money on potential repairs and replacements.
Daily Hardwood Floor Cleaning
Whereas your hardwood floors shouldn’t occupy too much of your time or head-space, there are a few important things that you can do each day (or every few days) to maintain consistent cleanliness.
If your schedule allows it, a hardwood floor is best kept clean by daily sweeping and vacuuming. In most cases though, you do not need to sweep or vacuum every part of your floor daily. Instead, daily upkeep is recommended most for high traffic areas such as hallways, kitchens, and dining rooms.
Weekly Mopping
Once the dust and debris are cleared with a broom or vacuum, a weekly or bi-weekly mopping is the best way to prevent smudges and grime from building up on your floors. For optimal results, make sure to mop your hardwood floors with a damp (never wet) microfiber cloth.
Preventative Maintenance
In a brand new hardwood floor, there are few larger eyesores than scratching or discoloration. To prevent damages like these from occurring, take a look at these important steps you can take around your home:
- Remove Your Shoes At The Door – Don’t track in the dirt and debris from outside onto your new hardwood floor. Wearing socks or stockings around the house is best, as bare feet may also spread dust or oils around your living space. You may have been a “shoes okay” house before, but for best results, it’s important to follow this rule as often as possible.
- Add Furniture Pads – Felt furniture pads are the best way to prevent scratches caused during day to day living, cleaning, and rearranging. Simply add felt furniture pads to the legs of your chairs, couches, and tables to limit scratches and prolong the life of your hardwood.
- Limit Sun Exposure – Too much direct sunlight is the leading cause of discoloration in hardwood flooring. To combat this, most homeowners use curtains or blinds to prevent any discoloration on the wood or finish.
- Rug Rotation – If you’ve recently finished or refinished your hardwood floors, rotating your rugs around the room will help let the new coat breathe, even after it has fully cured. Beyond this, rugs and doormats are also great for preventing dirt transfer from shoes or other rooms.
Equipment & Materials Used to Clean Hardwood Floors
When it comes to cleaning your hardwood floors, using the right equipment and materials is by far the most important part of the equation. On the other side of things, motivating yourself to keep up with a diligent cleaning schedule may be a bit more challenging.
Brooms
To start, you will want to get your hands on a good, old fashioned broom. However, not just any broom will do the trick. In fact, rough bristles and cheap brooms can cause scratching and wear away at the finish. Instead, we recommend using a soft bristled broom , either made from nylon, rubber, or another fine material.
Vacuums
Before you use an ordinary carpet vacuum on your new hardwood floors, think again! There are many specifically designed hardwood floor vacuum cleaners that are engineered to pull the dust and debris out from the cracks and crevices in the floorboards without creating any damage.
Hardwood floor vacuum cleaners come in all shapes and sizes, with some homeowners choosing to use a small, automatic robot like a Roomba . Beyond this, there are also many great 2-1 products for both vacuuming and mopping.
Mops and Microfiber Pads
A mop that utilizes replaceable microfiber pads is perhaps the easiest and most effective way to perform a weekly deep cleaning on your hardwood floors. Microfiber pads are crucial for performing the necessary cleanse without damaging your floor. To keep it green, many microfiber pads can be washed and reused.
Here, it is important to note that most traditional mops use far too much water, which has a very real hazard for hardwood flooring.. Homeowners should instead opt for a mop that resembles a Swiffer , only using as much liquid as necessary.
Cleaners
Lastly, the right cleaning solution is critical in keeping your floors sparkling clean and their finish strong. While simple soap and water may do the job, specifically designed hardwood floor cleaning products will always be the best choice. Universal cleaners, oils, waxes, and homemade remedies should all be avoided because they can cause permanent damage or discoloration.
Walnut Hardwood’s Recommended Products and Tools
If you are looking for high quality products to clean and maintain your hardwood floors, then we have a few suggestions for you. Although it is tempting to simply use whatever is the least expensive and most convenient, cheap cleaning products and solutions are almost always going to be less effective and potentially harmful to your floors.
For your hardwood cleaning routine, we strongly recommend acquiring some of your cleaning materials from either Bona Hardwood Cleaners or Real Clean Floors . These brands are widely trusted by professionals and are environmentally responsible. Plus, they can be conveniently ordered online as well.
Want us to do the hard work for you?
Walnut Hardwood LLC is a locally owned and operated small business in Denver, Colorado. Not only does our team install all kinds of flooring throughout the region, but we also help our customers clean and maintain their hardwood, vinyl, and more.
Whether we have installed your flooring or not, Walnut Hardwood LLC is available to help clean and restore the hardwood floors in your home so that they look as good as new, guaranteed. If you are interested in a professional hardwood cleaning, please feel free to give us a call at (720) 539-9899 or contact us to learn more.
