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How to Clean Hardwood Floors?

How to clean hardwood floors? Hardwood floors need to be protected carefully for lasting longer without damage. Using the wrong way to dust hardwood floors can cause scratch marks on your floors.

There’re many tips you should know when cleaning hardwood floors. Read more to get more tips on cleaning hardwood floors.

 

Best Ways to Clean Hardwood Floors

Finding the best methods and steps to clean your hardwood floor properly will improve the shiny look and durability of the wood floor. How to clean hardwood floors is a process that needs keen steps for better results. The following are some of the ways of cleaning your wood floor.

best ways to clean hardwood flooring

  • Vacuum regularly using a soft floor zozzle

The vacuum helps to remove fine debris and dirt from the crevices and cracks of a hardwood floor. A canister vacuum is the best choice for you. The vacuum gadget has a long. Oval wood floor brush reaching tiny spaces attached. You can also choose a Robot vacuum, which automatically does the work for you.

The vacuum also removes pet hair and dust that might cause scratches on the floor.

  • Sweeping the floor

For sweeping, choose a soft-bristled angled broom that will not damage the hardwood floor with scratches, it is extensive for swift cleaning and can quickly get into corners.

  • Use of bona hardwood floor cleaner spray

For the surface-treated hardwood floors, use Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Spray to wet-clean the hardwood floor. You can spray a small area of about 3 foot by 3 foot and clean any dissolved dirt using a microfiber mop. Impressively, the bona spray acts well as you are just scrubbing any dirt.

  • Using a mop

Use a squeezed damp mop with a flat head and a microfiber pad. Move with the floor texture and use a spray bottle to control the amount of cleaning fluid. You can clean one small area at a time and work out your way around the whole of the hardwood floor.

  • Polishing the floor

The sealing or polishing step involves gently spreading out a polishing liquid as you work your way out of the room. You can use a polishing pad on the mop to polish out the wood floor and seal any small cracks.

  • Icing Out wax and gum

Chewing gum and dried candle wax on the hardwood floor with either penetrating or surface finishes can be cleaned with ice. You can fill a freezer bag with few ice cubes and place it over the gum or dried candle spot on the hardwood floor until the gum turns brittle.

Scrape the brittle wax or gum gently with a plastic spatula edge. If it is in a penetrating finish floor, re-apply a solvent-based wax to the area scraped using a smooth towel and then wipe dry the area with a cloth.

  • Covering scratches

Covering scratches on the hardwood floor is one of the ways of making the floor clean. You can take a crayon with the floor color and rub it on the scratch to fill the gap. Then turn on a blow dryer and heat the area where you have applied the crayon and wipe dry the area with a soft towel.

  • Rejuvenating the Floor

Rejuvenating fluid works best to restore any dull-looking hardwood floor after cleaning. You can use a bona mop with a cleaning head to work your way out after spraying the rejuvenate liquid.

Rejuvenate moves evenly on the floor and leaves behind a luxurious and sealed-looking wood floor even after drying.

 

How to Make Hardwood Floors Shine?

how to polish hardwood floor shine

The hardwood floors must be shining every time after cleaning. The following are some of the ways to make the hardwood floor polish.

  • Use of Boiling Water and Tea Bags

Tea contains tannic acid that will remove dirt and create a shining feature in your hardwood floor. You can use a damp cloth dipped in the boiled tea poured inside a bucket. Clean the floor gently using the fabric. Dampness allows the floor to dry quickly and shine. Tea is also perfect for removing any small pieces of dirt from the wood floor’s grooves.

 

  • Use of Lemon Juice Mixed with Water

You have to dilute lemon juice with water and use it to shine your hardwood floor. The lemon juice also leaves a lemon scent without any chemicals. You can use this to clean old and yellow hardwood floors.

 

  • Use of White Vinegar, Olive Oil, and Water

Mix the three natural ingredients to make a solution. Use the solution to clean the floor using a damp towel. The mixture solution will restore the natural shiny look of the hardwood floor. Olive oil is the best ingredient and secret for your wood floor to shine.

 

  • Use of White Vinegar Mixed with Vegetable Oil

You need to mix the two ingredients to make a simple solution, which is more effective for cleaning your solid hardwood floor. The acid in the vinegar will help in breaking down the grime and dirt on the floor. In this way, you can clean your haze hardwood floors.

 

Best Kinds of Mops for Cleaning a Hardwood Floor

Best mops will ensure no risk of ruining your wood floor, and it will sweep your hardwood floor without risking damaging them in the cause of cleaning. The following are some of the best mops for the hardwood floor.

  • Microfiber mops

Flat microfiber mops are the best for hardwood floors. Microfibers flat mops offer you the best cleaning action. These mops have a high capacity to hold onto liquids and dirt. Also, the shape of the fibers makes it easy to scrap and collect soil from the stable floor.

Microfiber flat mops are easy to use because of their lightweight, and it does not require additional equipment like a mop bucket. The swabs are best at swiveling and allow you to move conveniently under furniture.

Furthermore, microfiber mops are reusable. You can launder the fibers even 100 times in your home washer and dryer and make them last for many years. Check out Turbo mops microfiber mop.

  • Conventional dust mops

Conventional dust mops are a blend of synthetic fibers and cotton. The dust mop head works effectively at collecting soil from your hardwood floor.

Here are some different dust mop pads:

dust mop for hardwood floors

1. Cotton Mop Head 

It is good at absorbing; cotton is used mostly on mop heads because it is versatile. Cotton mops are good for cleaning spills, picking up dirt, and cleaning hardwood floors. And cotton heads tend to dry slowly, and if it is not dried well, it can damage really fast.

2. Microfiber Heads 

They are expensive but worth the price, these heads are made with fine synthetic fibers. Microfiber heads are long-lasting, reusable and can be washed several, but it does not deteriorate.

3. Synthetic Heads 

This is one of the durable and effective material mop heads for hardwood floors, they are man-made but very resistant and can’t be easily damaged even after bleaching.

4. Blend Heads 

They are made from cotton and synthetic fiber. That’s where the name blend comes from. The blend of the two materials is good enough since this kind of mop head is durable, affordable, and performance really well.

Therefore, conventional dust mops are best for removing dirt before mopping the hardwood floor.

 

  • Sponge mops

Sponge mops are good at picking spills on the hardwood floor. The sponge does a great job of absorbing liquid spills but not taking up the dirt. Sponge mops are narrow and hence convenient for cleaning small areas at a time.

 

  • String wet mops

String mops include the spin-mops and looped –end mops, which are best for cleaning hardwood floors for the cafeteria, shops, and kitchen but not in the house. They use mop buckets, and thus they will not get your wood floor very clean and dry.

 

How to Care For Hardwood Floors?

  • Regular cleaning

To keep the floors looking good it is important to make sure they are cleaned on a regular schedule. Cleaning is one of the best ways to keep the hardwood floor looking its best. Cleaning will remove any dirt or debris that can cause scratches. There should be a cleaning routine for the floor and it should be followed. This can help keep the floor looking its best.

  • Polishing

Most of the hardwood floors have a polyurethane finish. The finish will help protect the floor from damage and will give it a bit of a glossy shine. The floor may be subject to normal wear and tear and may have small scratches over time. The floor should be polished every so often using a buffing pad to help restore the shine and will reduce the scratches.

  • Watching the windows

Most people may not think of this but the windows and the light from the sun can have an impact on the flooring. The UV rays from the sun can cause the wood to become discolored.

To protect the flooring and prevent it from being discolored curtains or blinds should be used to keep the sun of the flooring. It will also protect the wood from getting too hot.

If hardwood is exposed to direct sunlight it will begin to fade and will show signs of aging. Every so often any rugs or furniture on the wood need to be moved around. This will help the floor age evenly.

  • Refinishing

Every three to five years the floor should be refinished and a new coat should be applied to the surface. This will allow the floor to shine once again and will fill in any cracks.

  • If the floor is scratched it may need to be sanded before being refinished.
  • If the floor is newer this is something to look into. Newer material often is made with a smaller core and less wood. It may only be able to be sanded one time.

 

Preventing Damage to the Hardwood Floor

how to care for hardwood floors

  • Place rugs and mats

Mats can reduce the amount of debris that gets on the floor. When people come into the home they should be encouraged to take off their shoes so they do not drag dirt over the floor.

There should be another mat placed in a high traffic area. The mats should also be put in a place where water may come in contact with the flor such as the kitchen sink.

  • There are special mats used for the hardwood floor. A regular mat with a rubber back does not have ventilation and can cause debris to stick under the rug.
  • The rugs should be cleaned often to remove dirt and debris
  • Protect from furniture

Furniture can leave marks on the floor and they can also scratch the floor. There are felt protectors that can be put on the legs of the furniture to protect the flooring. These items will get dirty so they will need to be placed often.

Furniture should never be dragged over the floor. A person may need to wait for help if it is heavy.

  • General upkeep

The hardwood flooring may get scratches from time to time. Accidents happen and even careful people may experience a scratch to two. A stain market or a pen can be used to hide the scratch.

There are some markers made especially for hardwood flooring. The entire floor cannot be done using a marker but it can help with a little spot here and there.

  • Watch the pets

Pets will need their nails and claws trimmed so they do not scratch the floor. Pets may also track dirt on the floor. The pads of their feet should be gently cleaned too.

 

What Not To Do While Cleaning the Hardwood Floor?

hardwood floors dry mop

After knowing how to clean your hardwood floor properly, it is also essential to know what not to do when cleaning the floor.

1. Avoid solvent-based cleaners, pine sol, mop, and Glo, rubbing alcohol, Murphy oil soaps, and any detergent containing bleach or ammonia for cleaning your hardwood floor.

2. When scrubbing the hardwood floor, avoid using scrub brushes, steel wool, or Brillo pad for cleaning your finished hardwood floor. There will be no difference in rubbing your hardwood floor with sandpaper.

3. Hardwood floors are neither waterproof nor water-resistant.

Your basement cannot resume from water damage but only replace it. Therefore avoid using much water when mopping the hardwood floor. You should not see any standing water as you move to allow the floor to dry quickly.

4. The type of water used to clean the basement is very crucial.

Avoid using hard water from wells, chlorinated water, and water from taps as they tend to leave mineral deposits on the hardwood floor leading to damage and discoloration, which are difficult or impossible to remove.

5. Be cautious of any product claimed to rejuvenate or finish your wood floor. Some products might leave behind a short-seasoned polished look that wears off after some washes on the floor. Besides, the products create ugly and impossible to remove residues on your floor.

6. However important it might be to clean your floor every day and not pour any cleaner directly to the hardwood floor. The product might cause moisture damage when the wood absorbs the liquid.

7. When cleaning, do not leave the furniture in the same position for a long time.

Every time you are cleaning, try to reposition your furniture to avoid the multi-coloration of the floor. The sunlight rays through the windows can cause your wood floor to fade naturally, except for the areas covered with furniture.

8. Do not forget to refinish your hardwood floor.

In case you see any scratched appearances on the wood floor, reapply the protective finish. The finishing will give your woody floor a new shine and smooth out any imperfections.

9. Do not forget to seal out any cracks.

You can fill the cracks on the floor by rubbing crayons of the same color as the floor on the cracked area and wipe to dry.

 

FAQ

Should I buy a dust mop for hardwood floors?

Yes, you should but only get the right dust mop for your floor. Hardwood floors should be protected from scratches, and this is by using the correct mops.

 

Conclusion

Having an installation of a hardwood floor in your house, it is a long-term investment that if properly taken care of, it will last longer. With proper cleaning products and equipment, your hardwood floor will always look appealing and shiny.

Always keeping your floor looking new every day does not need regular cleaning but proper care. Moreover, you should always use quality recommended hardwood cleaning products and the right tools, and also know the don'ts when cleaning.

You should, therefore, understand the type of hardwood floor you have and how to clean hardwood floors, to avoid any damages that will cause an ugly look and become expensive to replace.

 

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