How to Clean Hardwood Floors

Whether oak, pine, bamboo or other wood, the methods for cleaning wood floors are similar. Check with the manufacturer for any instructions that are specific to your floor.

The first step in learning how to clean hardwood floors is removing dust or debris that can scratch or dull their surface. Sweeping and vacuuming hardwood floors works well no matter what kind of wood floor you have. The best way to clean hardwood floors is to adopt a regular routine.

• Use a broom or hardwood floor mop for cleaning wood floors daily. A microfiber dust mop pre-treated with a dusting agent will pick up dust and dirt and prevent scratches.
• Vacuum your hardwood floor once a week. Use your vacuum's hard floor setting. This raises the vacuum cleaner and deactivates the brush roll. This setting works only by suction.
• When vacuuming hardwood floors, be careful to always turn the brush roll off since it can scratch your floors. Some models offer rubber wheels, which are less likely to leave scratches than models with hard, plastic wheels.

Heavily used areas should be cleaned more often, every week or two. Another way to clean hardwood floors is to use a flat mop and hardwood floor cleaner. But while basic cleaning methods may be similar, certain floor types may require slightly different tools and products to ensure proper care and prevent damage.

However, this depends on the floor’s type of finish, not the wood itself. For example, polyurethane, considered the most durable finish, handles water-based cleaners well. Waxed finishes often need buffing to maintain their shine. As oil-based finishes are more delicate, gentler cleaning solutions help to avoid stripping the finish. When it comes to cleaning recommendations, always check the manufacturer's instructions for specific floor types.

• When mopping hardwood floors, make sure to wring most of the water out of the mop. This ensures the mop is damp and not sopping wet. Hardwood floors, especially if prefinished, can be damaged by standing water.
• Excess moisture may cause hardwood floors to warp, shrink and crack, resulting in squeaking. So immediately wipe up any spills on these floors.
• For a cleaning solution, you can mix a few drops of dish soap or castile soap with warm water in a bucket.
• Avoid using harsh detergents that will damage the floor’s wood and dull its finish. You should also not use products like vinyl floor cleaner or tile cleaner.
• Don’t use DIY wood floor cleaner containing vinegar when mopping your hardwood floors. It can also damage the wood and dull its finish.
• Spray-and-mop products or disposable wet pads designed for hardwood floors are an effective cleaning option.
• For spot cleaning, spray a cleaner that’s safe for hardwood floors. Be sure to rinse and dry it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Using only floor cleaners specifically formulated for hardwood will help to prevent an oily residue build-up that causes squeaky floors.
• Unless you use a steam mop designed for cleaning wood floors, steam cleaning is not advised for hardwood floors. Steam can dull the finish and damage the wood.

Tip: Your floors should dry pretty quickly. You can speed up the process by turning on a ceiling fan or drying the floor with a microfiber cloth.

Knowing how to clean hardwood floors includes taking care of occasional scratches and dullness. Here are a few quick fixes:

• Try liquid scratch concealers. When they dry, they form a permanent seal that won’t come off during cleaning. Be sure to select a concealer that best matches the color of your floor’s finish.
• You can restore the shine with wood floor polish and protectants. They can help fill small scratches and resist wear on your floor.
• Use floor wax to revitalize and deep clean worn floors. Always apply floor wax to go with the grain of the wood.
• Other floor protection materials include repair kits, scratch repair kits and touch-up kits.
• If your floor is real hardwood, lightly sand it, then apply a new finish to restore the wood's natural beauty.

Tip: Don't overwax a wood floor. If it looks dull, try buffing your hardwood floor instead.

The best way to clean hardwood floors and keep them in shape is to stick to a regular schedule of maintenance.

• Sweep, dust or dry mop daily.
• Vacuum weekly.
• Clean heavy-traffic areas with a damp mop twice a month.
• Clean with recommended hardwood floor cleaner once a month.
• Apply a fresh coat of finish every three to five years.
• Sand and refinish every 10 years.

• At each entrance to your home, place a door mat, so that everyone can wipe their feet as they come in. Using mats will keep dirt off your floors. Ideally, floor mats will also catch rocks and other small debris that could scratch the wood.
• High-traffic areas can get scratched and worn more easily. Rugs can protect the floor from wear and tear where people and pets walk most often.
• Your furniture can leave deep scratches on hardwood floors. Rugs can provide a barrier between furniture and the floor. If don't want to cover your wood floors with rugs, use furniture pads on the legs of chairs, sofas and tables.
• Whether you’re rearranging a room or shifting a piece to clean underneath it, use furniture sliders anytime you move things around. They protect your floors and make it easier to move heavy objects.
• If something spills on your floor, wipe it up as quickly as possible. Then clean and dry the area to prevent stains.