A hardwood floor can last for decades. However, to keep it in top condition, you need to clean it frequently and carefully! Nobody wants an ugly scratch or a dull finish on their floor. What's the best way to clean your floor? Learn here the do's and don'ts of cleaning hardwood floors!
DO: remove dust regularly
Neglecting regular cleaning on your floor could be counterproductive—cleaning a dirty hardwood floor is riskier and takes a lot of time! Instead, to keep your floor clean for longer, remove loose dirt and debris daily.
Sweeping your floor won't take you much time. The best tools to use are a soft-bristle broom or a dust mop.
DON'T: use the beater bar attachment
You could also use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust from your floor. However, you need to be careful! Never use a beater bar or any other attachment that isn't specifically designed for hardwood flooring.
Other tools to avoid are steam cleaners. Steam mops are great for tile or many different types of floor, but they will wreak havoc on your hardwood floors!
DO: clean messes right away
A spill is easier to clean with a damp cloth before it sticks to the floor surface. Keep a soft cloth ready to tackle any mess right when it happens, from dirty footprints to food spills.
DON'T: wet the floor
Water and wood don't mix well. Many hardwood floors have a protective coat that prevents water from penetrating into the wood. However, in waxed floors and other types of finishes, sitting water could still cause damages.
If you decide to mop your floor, ensure you are not wetting it too much!
DO: deep clean every few months
It doesn't matter how frequently you dust your hardwood floor; you still need to deep clean it from time to time. Usually, deep cleaning a floor means mopping it.
Can you mop hardwood floors? In most cases, you can. However, always use a trusted commercial or DIY hardwood floor cleaner to be sure it won't damage the finish. Also, if you are using a traditional mop, wring it well before mopping!
DON'T: overclean low-traffic areas
You should sweep the floor every now and then in a high-traffic area and mop with each seasonal clean. However, the low-traffic areas on your floor can go without cleaning for longer. Mopping a low-traffic floor twice a year is enough! This way, you can lower the risk of dulling the finish!
DO: protect your floor
Using floor protectors in high-traffic areas can save you a lot of cleaning. Place rugs and mats in entryways, hallways, and other living areas. Also, you can place floor protectors under furniture to avoid scratches!
DON'T: skip refinishing
Cleaning your floor is an excellent way to keep it looking like new. However, sooner or later, you'll need to refinish it. The frequency of refinishing can go from once or twice a year to every five or ten years. It depends on the type of finish on your floor!
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