Those beautiful hardwood floors might not look like it, but they withstand a lot of wear and tear. From constant traffic to dropped pots and heavily dragged furniture and toys, they take a beating. Trying to maintain them in their original shine and beauty can seem almost impossible.
However, with proper care and regular cleaning, your hardwood floor will thank you. Below, we highlight proper ways to clean your hardwood floors.
Start by Sweeping the Hardwood Floor
Begin the cleaning process by thorough sweeping to eliminate any dust, dirt, or debris from your floors. Opt for a brush or broom with gentle, soft bristles to ensure effective cleaning without causing any potential damage.
If vacuuming is your preferred method, make sure to use a vacuum with an attachable soft brush. This attachment provides an extra layer of protection, minimizing the risk of scratches or harm to your wooden floors. Consider incorporating vacuuming into your routine at least twice a week for optimal maintenance.
Proper Cleaning Techniques
Regular Dusting and Sweeping
Dust and small particles can act like sandpaper on your hardwood floors, causing scratches over time. Regularly dust and sweep with a soft-bristled broom or a microfiber dust mop to prevent this abrasion.
Mopping Techniques
While hardwood floors add sophistication, they can be sensitive to moisture. When mopping, use a well-wrung mop or a damp cloth. Avoid excessive water, as it can seep into the seams and cause swelling or warping.
Less Water
Hardwood floors don’t do well when and if soaked in water. This is true even when your floors have been waxed and sealed. Why? Wood is naturally porous and will end up absorbing the water if left to soak for too long.
This means that using a damp mop instead of a wet one can minimize damage. Moreover, it doesn’t hurt to follow up with a dry mop after you’ve worked a damp mop over the floors. If you happen to spill any water, dry it immediately with a dry cloth.
Simplicity Is Key
People often think that using strong detergents or soaps will leave the hard floor with a buffed, clean look. Yet, products that contain alkaline and abrasive ingredients can leave the surface scratched and dull. The same is true if you use ammonia to clean your wood surface.
The best thing to do is to use plain water or a mixture of plain water and plain soap. You can take it a step further and mix vinegar in lukewarm cleaning water. Vinegar acts as a suitable natural cleaning agent instead of harsh chemical ones that might strip the wood of its protective coating.
Simplicity is also crucial when dealing with a stain on your hardwood floor. If it’s a non-greasy stain, use some dish soap mixed in warm water. The cloth soaked with the solution should be soft to avoid damaging the floor.
If the stain is greasy, try rubbing a soft cloth with lye soap. Always remember that a little goes a long way when it comes to wood floors.
Use a Hardwood Floor Cleaner
Picture effortlessly revitalizing your non-waxed, unsealed, or polyurethane wooden floors with the assurance that no harm will befall them. Enter the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner, a water-based cleaning solution designed to exceed expectations. As you spray this innovative solution onto your wooden floors, marvel at its swift drying action, leaving no room for potential damage. Experience the epitome of worry-free, efficient floor care with the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hardwood floors hate water. They tend to stain and even change in appearance after being exposed to water for too long. Avoid using harsh detergents and always use a soft broom to sweep the dust and dirt away.
With the above information, you should be able to increase your floors’ durability and maintain their beauty.
Of course, you can also contact us, the Maid Squad, to make your work a lot easier. With experience in cleaning residential homes in Los Angeles, California, we know just how to treat every wood floor type.