How To Hardwood Floors
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How To Clean Hardwood Floors
One of our most frequently asked questions is about how to clean hardwood floors. There are specific hardwood floor cleaners and tools we recommend. And those you should absolutely avoid. We also discuss the cautions of cleaning hardwood floors. But below, we'll review the cleaning process itself, as suggested by our hardwood flooring craftsmen.
How To Clean Hardwood Floors - Step by Step
- 1.) To begin, get rid of the dust, dirt, crumbs and other abrasive particles that scratch your hardwood floor. We recommend a padded hardwood floor vacuum, but a soft-bristle broom will do the job as well. A thorough removal of the debris on your floor, large and small, is important to prevent more wear and tear than is necessary.
- 2.) Next, spot clean with a soft cloth, dampened (not wet) with either water, a 50/50 water and vinegar mixture, or a professional hardwood floor cleaner. Take a quick tour of the floor and wipe up sticky, crusty, smudged, stained or spotted areas that may not come up so easily with a mop.
- 3.) Last, wash the entire floor using a professional hardwood floor cleaner. Squirt the cleaner right from the bottle onto an area of the floor in an 'S' pattern, avoiding puddles. You can also use a spray bottle and mist the floor. Or use a bucket, but only dampen your cleaning tool - don't soak it. Then mop - or wipe the floor on your hands and knees. Repeat this process in sections until you're done cleaning your wood floors.
- 4.) Grab a soft, non-abrasive towel (old t-shirts turned inside out work great) and spot check the floor for any standing water or excess moisture. Wipe up as needed. It's okay to air-dry a lightly damp floor. It's not okay to leave water or liquid of any kind to dry for any length of time.
NOTE: Water and wood don't mix. Always be cautious about water or other cleaning fluids left standing on the floor, including wet towels, wet area rugs, clothing, shoes, or anything else that puts moisture in contact with your floor.
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