How to Clean Hardwood Floors Like a Pro in 6 Simple Steps

Hardwood Floor Installation in Houston

Step 1: Sweep hardwood floors daily

The first and foremost hardwood floor cleaning tip is to sweep. Dirt and grime buildup prevent wood floors from shining. “Keeping debris off the floor is key,” Miller says. Not only will the messes look filthy, but sweeping can help minimize damage. Think about it as the death of a thousand cuts, except for your floor space. Even pet hair has the potential to damage wood floors, so it’s best to be proactive. “If there’s a piece of debris on a wood floor, and you walk across, it’s like sandpaper on the bottom of your shoe. It can ruin or scratch that surface,” Miller adds.

Sweep daily, if possible. Then, follow up with a dry mop, or dust mop, to pick up remaining dirt. A microfiber mop will also help maintain the luster. If you can’t sweep the entire house every day, aim to hit high-traffic areas, like entryways or hallways, as often as possible. This simple cleaning routine could ensure that the wood floors will have fewer scuffs.

Step 2: Vacuum regularly

In addition to sweeping, you should vacuum regularly. This will help pick up any fine particles that sweeping alone may miss, and the strong suction of a vacuum cleaner is extra useful to pull up dust and debris in cracks, crevices, and between planks.

Just make sure that you’ve turned on the hard floor setting, which turns off the brush roll or beater bar, to avoid scratching. You could also use a flat attachment to protect the floor from bristles. The the last thing you want to do is scuff the floor as you clean.

Step 3: Mop hardwood floors

Yes, as long as it is done correctly and without excess water. Once you’ve found the right wood floor cleaner, use it on the floors with a damp mop. What you don’t want to do, however, is overdo it and allow standing water to pool on the wood floors. “You don’t want to bring out a wet bucket and start soaking the floors, because that’ll cause the wood to swell,” Miller says.

To prevent too much water, opt for a microfiber mop instead of a cotton mop, as the former requires less water—and won’t leave you with a dripping wet mop. In fact, according to Bona, a worldwide industry leader in hardwood floor care, microfiber mops use about 20 times less liquid, making them the best mops for the job. You’ll also spend significantly less time trying to wring out the mop head, making it a win-win for you and your wood floors.

Miller advises against using steam and a steam mop. Though it may provide a deep clean for wood floors, it allows vapor to enter small spaces and damage the floors in your living room.

Step 4: Fix scratches in hardwood floors

Vacuum bristles, grime, and even pet hair can all cause scratches—and of course anything else that you may track into high-traffic areas. To a homeowner, these scratches and scuffs can mess up even the best hardwood floor. “It’s part of owning a wood floor,” Miller says. Think of minor scratches as adding to the character of your home. If you do want to fix surface scratches, it’s a relatively simple DIY project. Just use a stain marker from a wood furniture touch-up kit. A wax stick also works for deeper dents.

For a more serious project, select a stain to match the color of the wood floors. Then, buff the scuffs by sanding the area with fine-grit sandpaper. With a clean cloth, apply a small amount of stain, and wipe away. If necessary, brush on a small amount of polyurethane to add back the shine. Just make sure to use the same finish. 

Step 5: Maintain hardwood floors

Knowing how to clean hardwood floors isn’t the only thing to consider when it comes to immaculate wood flooring. The environment that surrounds your floor is also a big component of their care and durability. Wood reacts dramatically to temperature and humidity, so it’s important to understand these elements too, even if they’re out of your control. “The nice thing about wood is that it’s a natural product, so it’ll tell you if it’s not happy,” Miller explains.

Your best line of defense is noting red flags. If there’s too much moisture on, around, or below the wood, it will cup. Eliminate the source of the water, especially any standing water, to stop this from occurring. Exceedingly dry conditions induce gapping, cracking, and splitting. “Adding a little moisture to the air will allow the floor to settle back down. It’ll make it happy again,” Miller says. A humidifier like TruSens measures humidity readings in real-time and should do the trick.

Step 6: Recoat hardwood floors

When the floor is starting to wear down, it’s time to step in and recoat. “A recoat doesn’t involve sanding,” Whatley says. “It’s actually applying another coat of finish to the top of the floors to bring back the luster and life of that finish, so you don’t have to go through the sanding process.” To recoat, first start by deep cleaning the floors, then buff (to allow adhesion), and apply a new coat.

This exercise can prolong a floor’s life for many years by adding a layer of protection each time it’s needed. There are many different floor finishes on the market, and the best choice for refinishing may come down to the needs and specifications of your wood floors. “The beauty of wood floors is that they can be repaired and refinished and recoated,” Miller says. “A lot of normal wear and tear can be taken care of on a wood floor.” Once you have your new coat, you already know exactly what to do for your hardwood floor cleaning routine.

Source: architecturaldigest

About Fantastic Floors, Inc. We are a successful company with more than 25 years of experience in the market. We have the infrastructure, high quality equipment, materials and supplies to achieve and exceed the expectations of our customers, allowing us to gain the confidence and loyalty for our services. We have more than 500 residential, 300 properties and 25 commercial customers totally satisfied with our services.

Hardwood Floor Installation in Houston

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