Here are the Most Effective Ways to Clean Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors add a warm and elegant touch to just about any room in the home. It’s low maintenance, easy to keep clean and provides a high-quality look. And with so many wood types to choose from, your floors can look distinctly different from your neighbor’s!

While hardwood flooring is beautiful and sophisticated, there is some debate over the best ways to clean it. Some hardwood flooring manufacturers recommend a dampened cloth while others suggest specific brands of cleaning solutions. No wonder why there is such confusion!

Here at Woodhaven, we recommend starting with your manufacturer’s suggestions while keeping the following tips in mind.

Sweep or Vacuum High-Traffic Areas Daily

Keep your hardwood floors clean by sweeping or vacuuming them daily, particularly in high-traffic areas. By doing this, you remove crumbs and debris that can scratch the wood. Aside from doing a quick vacuum or sweep, we also remind our customers to wipe up any and all liquid spills immediately. Even sealed floors don’t tolerate water.

Mop Less-Trafficked Areas Once a Month

Since you don’t want any standing water on your hardwood floors, use a damp mop or cloth. Work in small areas at a time and let the floors dry while you clean another section. You don’t have to mop your floors that often. Usually, once a month or every couple of weeks is fine, especially for less-trafficked areas.

Choose the Proper Cleaning Solution

If you do need to clean your floors - say you had a big party or someone in the home was sick - be sure to choose the proper cleaning solution. Don’t just assume that whatever you find online or in the stores is safe. Start with your manufacturer’s recommendations or mix 4 cups of warm water and a few drops of castile soap or dish soap. This solution is gentle enough to use on wood floors.

Dry the Floors with a Clean Cloth

As long as you clean with a damp mop, the solution should dry just fine on the floors. But to be on the safe side, you may want to dry your floors with a clean cloth or dry mop. Avoid oils, waxes, furniture sprays, ammonia, vinegar, lemon juice, etc. Many of these products can scratch the finish, leave behind a film or damage the floor’s surface.

With Proper Attention, Hardwood Floors Can Last a Lifetime

Some hardwood floor manufacturers will void the warranty if you use the wrong cleaning product. Not to mention, you don’t want to dull or scratch your beautiful hardwood floors! This is why it pays to speak to a flooring professional about the best ways to care for your floors. Woodhaven is happy to walk you through our flooring options and the best ways to keep them looking their best!