Best Way To Keep Wood Floors Clean – Expert advice from Bob Will, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair and DIY. Tried, true, and trusted home advice
Solved! This is the best way to clean hardwood floors. Get the juice out of hard-working wood with these safe dusting, deep cleaning and stain removal solutions.
Best Way To Keep Wood Floors Clean
Question: I’ve never given much thought to cleaning my cherry wood floors, but I’m starting to notice how stained they are. What is the best way to clean hardwood floors? I would love some recommendations on wood floor cleaning techniques and a good hardwood floor cleaner.
How To Clean Hardwood Floors For A Pristine Finish
A: That’s right, hardwood floors require regular cleaning to maintain them. Because different floor finishes have unique maintenance requirements, the best way to clean hardwood floors depends on the type of wood (such as cherry, maple, or oak) rather than the type of wood. If you use the wrong method or cleaning agent, you can damage the wood.
Learn how to determine your floor finish and choose materials for dust removal, deep cleaning and stain removal. Using these suggested methods to better clean your hardwood floors will keep your floors looking great for years to come.
The easiest way to check for a floor finish is to use a sharp knife blade to take a small hidden area of the floor and scrape off a small amount of the finish. If the scratched material is clear, your floor surface is probably coated. If the floor finish is stained when you draw, but no clear material is visible, the floor may be permeable.
Weekly dry sweeping, sweeping and/or vacuuming is the best way to remove light dust, dirt and pet hair from hardwood floors. This arrangement is suitable for floors with a surface or permeable finish.
Floor Cleaning Tips For Covid 19
The best mop for hardwood floors is usually a large flat head attached to a microfiber cloth pad, such as a Swiffer Sweeper. These mops have tiny synthetic fibers that penetrate the grooves of wood floors to collect and hold dust without scratching the wood.
To minimize cost and environmental impact, choose pads that are removable, machine washable and reusable. Compatible with most brands of hardwood floor mops, a pair of reusable pads like Old Home Kitchen Mop Pads is under $15.
If you prefer to sweep rather than sweep, choose a broom with synthetic bristle tips to collect dust on the broom head and prevent it from settling on the floor.
If vacuuming is your preferred method of dust collection, use a floor brush attachment and avoid a foam bar, as its rotating brush can dig into wood floors. Move the cleaning tool from one end of the floor to the other, paying particular attention to the junction of adjacent floorboards. Dust settles in these places.
The 3 Best Vacuums For Hardwood Floors Of 2023
Carefully insert the tip of a plastic knife into the bottom edge of the debris and gently slide the knife upward to remove the stuck food. Dab the scratched area with a clean cloth slightly moistened with a few drops of water, then moisten the water a second time with a dry cloth.
If you are using this method on a permeable floor and a small amount of the wax coating has been scraped off with a knife, reapply a drop of hardwood floor wax with a soft cloth to give the area a shiny, glossy finish. blameless
Oil and grease stains on surfaces or conductive layers are easily broken down by trisodium phosphate (TSP). Wear protective gloves and goggles and dilute 2 tablespoons TSP in 1 gallon of warm water in a large bucket. Dip the tip of a clean cloth in the solution and rub it into the stain in a gentle circular motion. After the TSP dissolves, run a cloth dampened with water to absorb the TSP, then quickly dry the area with a clean cloth.
Dried candle wax on surfaces or conductive floors can be easily removed with crayons and chewing gum ice. Fill a ziploc freezer bag with a few ice cubes, place the chilled bag on top until crisp, then scrape the edge with a plastic spatula.
How To Polish Wood Floors
If the cleaner removes the protective wax from the conductive finish, reapply the solvent-based hardwood floor wax to the scratched area with a soft cloth, then buff the repaired area with a rag.
Water, paint or pet urine stains are some of the more stubborn stains. If the floor is translucent, it is best to remove these stains by following the steps below using only a suitable hardwood floor cleaner and cleaning pad designed for translucent floors.
If your hardwood floor still looks dirty or dull after vacuuming, deep clean it with any wax-free, oil-free, pH-neutral cleaner, such as Bona PowerPlus Hardwood Floor Deep Cleaner, or a homemade solution containing ¼ cup. dish soap and 1 gallon of warm water.
The best way to mop a finished hardwood floor is to start by saturating a sponge mop with cleaner, wringing out excess liquid until the mop head is damp but not dripping, then using a circular mop to mop the floor in 3-foot sections. a time movement Movements to remove dirt and grime. Then rinse the mop with clean water, wipe off the excess, and wipe the floor again to absorb the remaining cleaner. Use a soft clean cloth such as AIDEA microfiber cloth to dry the floor.
How To Clean Hardwood Floors Like A Pro In 6 Simple Steps
If your floor has a penetrating coating, the best way to deep clean it is to remove the dirty old wax coating and reapply a new wax coating. Rub the floor with a cloth saturated with mineral spirits about 2 feet at a time, let the mineral spirits sit on each section for 5 minutes, then wipe with a fresh cloth slightly dampened with water. Then dry thoroughly with a fresh dry cloth.
Finally, apply a solvent-based hardwood floor wax such as Trewax Paste Wax with a soft cloth. Use the amount recommended by the manufacturer. Then polish 2-foot sections at a time and use a cloth or electric polisher (purchased or rented from a hardware store) to polish the wax in a circular motion.
Get a proper deep cleaning every two years whether you can see the buildup or not. It may be hard to notice the gradual changes in the floors you walk on every day, but once they’re clean, you might be surprised at the difference.
When looking for the best way to clean hardwood floors, first determine the type of floor finish. The type of finish determines the types and methods of cleaning products that safely clean the floor. Although a good deep cleaning can restore the look of wood, it is usually only needed a few times a year. Regular sweeping, mopping and vacuuming will help preserve the finish and keep the floor looking its best.
What’s In Wood Floor Cleaners?
Whether you have a natural wood floor or an engineered wood floor under your feet, there are certainly questions about what is safe and effective for cleaning wood floors. Read on for answers to some of the most popular questions about hardwood floor cleaning.
A hardwood floor cleaner made with white vinegar can clean heavily soiled hardwood floors. It is important to dilute white vinegar to half a cup of white vinegar for every gallon of water because it can be very harsh and harmful.
Deep cleaning old hardwood floors is very similar to cleaning new floors. Choose a method and cleaning agent for cleaning the same type of wood floor. However, it’s important to check a small area and go slowly, as the wood may need minor repairs or damage that can only be seen up close.
Dr. Bronner is pure castile soap diluted with wood safety. To clean your own hardwood floors, add a few drops to a spray bottle filled with water.
Keeping Your Wood Floor In Top Condition
Microfiber-padded mops are great for cleaning surface dirt, but floor-level dirt may require a plastic knife to remove dirt or a vacuum attachment to pull it out, or light sanding if it’s stuck to the wood.
There are many reasons why hardwood floors become dirty after cleaning. Be sure to rinse the mop head thoroughly, as a dirty mop cannot attract new dirt to the floor. Changing mop heads can also help with very dirty floors. To determine if the floor is clean, wipe the areas you cleaned with a white cloth to see if the floor is still dirty. Hardwood floors are beautiful and can make any home feel warm and inviting, but they definitely have a learning curve. Cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors can be harder than you think, especially if you’re not a beginner.
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