Use appropriate tools to clean your floor – a mop combined with a machine washable, microfiber pad for dusting and cleaning. Electrostatic actions attract dirt, micro particles and well known household allergens.
Avoid using water and vinegar, soap-based detergents, wax or steam cleansing agents on your hardwood floors. Vinegar or water actually dull the floor’s finish as time passes, while soap and wax leave residue. Steam cleaners put heat and far too much water on your floor, which can lead to cupping and long-lasting damage.
Regular dusting and cleaning prevents hardwood floors looking brand new. But protective mats can possibly further your floor’s life. Use natural rubber rug underlayment with a waffle design in entry ways or high traffic areas, and use felt floor protectors on house furniture.
Depending on the amount of traffic in your house, we recommend polishing the floors every two to three months with our Bona Hardwood Floor Polish and sanding and refinishing around every 3-5 years.
Monthly Schedule – Polish
Polishing your floor just about every few months is a great way to thoroughly clean hardwood flooring. Polishing renews and refreshes the finish that protects your hardwood floor. With floors that has some kind of protective sealant, it is the surface finish that is getting the most attention when we clean—not the actual hardwood. Polishing your floor fills in microscopic scratches and evens out a floor’s protective surface. Polishing a hard wood floor is not a difficult job and can be completed a minimal amount of effort.
Yearly Schedule – Deep Clean
With all of the abuse we put on our hardwood floors, consider providing your floor a deep clean or a sand and refinish every 3-5 years. Sanding and refinishing your floors completely removes the old protecting finish and replaces it. If your floor has several deep scratches or gouges, sanding and refinishing can fix this damage, leaving you with immaculately completely clean hardwood flooring.
Other Considerations
Listed here are some extra tips which will lead you on the best way to clean hardwood flooring:
- Use Mats. Place mats or rugs at entryways or other traffic areas to reduce the amount of dirt and particles that gets onto your floors. Be certain that the protective coverings you use are built for wood floors. Some rubber-backed mats can trap moisture, destroying floors in the process.
- Factors to Avoid. Avoid using water and vinegar, soap-based detergents, wax or steam cleaners on your hardwood floors. Vinegar and water actually dull the floor’s finish over time, while soap and wax leave residue. Steam cleaners put heat and far too much water on your floor, which can lead to cupping and long lasting damage.
- Traffic Concerns. As you may come up with your maintenance habit, remember that the overall use of your floors will dictate how often you need to clean. High-traffic areas may need to be mopped or polished more often, while less-frequented floors can go a bit longer between stronger cleanings.
Finding the best solution to clean hardwood floors will require some time and patience, however with the right tools and techniques, you’ll be able to maintain your floors looking their very best. Remember that the time you spend maintaining your floors pales compared to how much time you’ll devote enjoying your floors.
At Wood Floor Planet you are able to order all wood flooring products, with locations in Manhattan, NY and Weehawken, NJ you can stop in for a free consultation on all wood flooring products among all other flooring major brands. We serve Manhattan and all the New York City Boroughs, as well as, Hoboken, Weehawken, Jersey City and Fort Lee NJ.
