One of the many cool things about hardwood floors is that they’re extremely easy to clean.
If they’re surface-sealed (finished with urethane or polyurethane), as most modern hardwood floors are, then you can keep your floors tidy, well-maintained, and beautiful with these four simple tips:
1. Sweep or vacuum regularly.
Dirt or debris can scratch your finish, but it’s easy to remove. Simply sweep it up with a broom or use a vacuum. If you vacuum, be sure to use a vacuum cleaner with a soft-bristled brush that doesn’t rotate.
Another option for removing dirt and debris is a dust mop with a microfiber pad.
2. Mop floors using an approved hardwood floor cleaner.
When your floors need mopping, it’s very important that the hardwood floor cleaner you use is approved by the manufacturer of your finish or pre-finished flooring. We recommend Glitsa Clean.
Prepare the cleaning solution according to the directions or use a pre-prepared solution, and simply spray the cleaner on the floor and wipe it with a microfiber mop.
3. Don’t let liquids stand.
Surface-sealed finishes protect against liquid spills, but if the spill remains too long, it could cause the finish to whiten. This whitening can be cleaned off, but you can avoid the problem altogether by wiping up spills as soon as you’re aware of them, using anything that’s non-abrasive (e.g., cloth rag, paper towel, or hardwood floor mop).
4. Never use a steam cleaner on hardwood floors.
Manufacturers of certain steam cleaners (e.g., steam mops) claim that their products can sanitize, deodorize, and clean surface-sealed hardwood floors. But flooring and finish manufacturers continue to recommend that their customers don’t use steam cleaners.
These steam products may appear to work wonderfully at first, but over time they cause finish to wear down faster.
Who These Tips Aren’t For
These tips aren’t meant for hardwood floors finished with natural oils or other penetrating seals. And everyone should remember to wait a month after a floor has been finished to use any cleaning products on the new finish. They’ll be fine until you can start cleaning them!
To learn more about how to care for your hardwood floors, click here. To order cleaning products, click here. Or stop by our showroom. We’re glad to advise you on how to best care for your hardwood floors.
