Cleaning a fine surface like wood can be intimidating, especially if you're not sure what the finish is. To clean your hardwood floor without damaging the finish, follow these steps. Patience and a little elbow grease are all you need to get beautiful, clean floors.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: General Maintenance for Wooden Floors
Step 1. Determine the type of wood finish
Pre-finished floors are the easiest to spot, as each plank has beveled (slightly raised) edges. If the surface is not shiny, you have a stained or unfinished floor. Glossy floors are the hardest to distinguish. To test the presence of wax on the floor, moisten some extra-fine steel wool and rub it on a hidden area; if a light gray stain appears on the wool, you are in the presence of a wax finish. To check if there is an old or modern surface seal, drop a few drops of water on the most worn area of the floor; if the drops remain even after several minutes it is probably modern, but if they appear to impregnate or darken the wood, it is older or poorly finished and the floor needs to be treated with care.
- Most new floors are surface sealed with polyurethane, urethane or a coating polyacrylic, which are all resistant to water and stains and therefore easy to clean.
- Older floors that have not been refinished usually have a finish in shellac, lacquer or paint and although technically they are also "surface seals", they are not as durable as the most modern finishes; for the purposes of this article, they will therefore be placed in the "other" category next to the floors rough and to those waxed.
- Although the floors pre-finished are coated with a durable surface seal, the fact that each panel is coated separately (rather than pressed against each other on site) means that unsealed cracks between the panels can easily be damaged by water; for this reason, even pre-finished floors belong to the "other" category.
- If in doubt, choose the gentler method; better not take any chances with a wooden floor.
Step 2. Sweep the floor with a soft-bristled broom
This will remove large particles such as sand or earth, which could scratch the floor if caught under a rag. Alternatively, you can vacuum, as long as the bristles are wide to avoid scratches and there is only dust on the floor.
You can use the "bare floor" setting on the vacuum cleaner to avoid scratching the floor. Most vacuum cleaners have bristles attached to kick up dust, but these can ruin hardwood floors
Step 3. Remember to sweep and mop the floor every week, doing a thorough cleaning only if necessary
While you should regularly sweep and / or vacuum the floor to keep it free of dust and elements that could scratch it, you should only clean the wood when it really needs it. This will extend the life of your floor.
Wood floors are generally easy to clean, as there is nothing holding back dirt or dust. A simple sweep or vacuum should solve most problems
Step 4. Immediately remove any wet stains on hardwood floors
No matter what the finish is - you should never let moisture stay on hardwood floors for long. It can permanently damage the sealant and wood if you're not careful. Clean with a damp cloth, then dry the surface completely.
Part 2 of 3: Cleaning Wood with Modern Surface Protection
Step 1. Choose the right cleaner
For general cleaning, choose a neutral pH, water-based cleaner, such as those designed for vinyl floors, or wood-specific cleaners. To dissolve grease and dirt, choose an alkaline water-based cleaner: soaps, detergents or a little baking soda dissolved in water will be fine, although they should be used sparingly. To dissolve limescale or mineral deposits, choose an acid detergent; white vinegar or lemon juice diluted in water would be a good rinsing agent in this regard.
- The specific cleaners for wooden floors, of course, are the safest solution.
- Don't use bleach, ammonia, harsh cleaners, or anything that leaves a residue (such as oil, furniture spray, wax). Not only will they damage the wood, but some will even void your floor warranty.
Step 2. Dilute your chosen cleaner in a bucket of water
To avoid limescale streaks, you might decide to use distilled water, which can be bought cheaply in any supermarket. However, a quick wipe with a mixture of water and lemon juice after cleaning will also prevent streaks if you hand dry immediately afterwards.
Step 3. Wash the floor with the cleaning solution of your choice using a mop
Dip a mop in a bucket of detergent diluted in water. Run it across the floor following the grain of the wood, starting at the far corner and working your way to a door, so you never have to step on the wet surface. Refill the bucket if the solution gets too dirty.
Take off your shoes. This will prevent you from leaving marks or dirt on the floor while it is wet
Step 4. Clean difficult areas with a cloth
Dip the cloth in the cleaning solution and rub it on the stains with your hands to apply more pressure.
Step 5. Use the mop to soak up excess liquid from the floor
Replace the dirty water with fresh, clean water. Rinse and dry the mop so it is damp and use it to catch any dirty water left on the floor. Put it in the clean bucket and repeat.
Squeeze the mop to dry, rub it on the wet floor until it is saturated with water and repeat until the floor is dry enough. Do not delay this step: Although modern surface protectors are water resistant, they do not tolerate being wet for long periods. When you're done, rinse the mop and fill the bucket with water.
Step 6. Rinse the floor with the clean mop
This will remove any streaks or streaks left by the cleaning solution.
Step 7. Dry the floor with a rag (optional)
You can also use a wrung mop to dry the floor. This will prevent streaking and extend the life of your floor.
Part 3 of 3: Clean all other hardwood floors
Step 1. Fill a bucket with water
To avoid limescale streaks, you could use distilled water, which can be bought at a good price in any supermarket.
Step 2. Take off your shoes
This way you will avoid leaving marks or dirt on the floor while cleaning.
Step 3. Dust the floor with a slightly damp mop
Dip a mop into a bucket of water, squeeze it completely and wipe it across the floor following the grain of the wood. As long as you can still squeeze the water out of the mop with your hands, it's too wet to use. Wash the mop frequently during cleaning and refill the bucket if the water gets too dirty.
Step 4. Clean stubborn areas with a cloth and a drop of odorless mineral spirits
Although too strong for regular use, mineral spirits can be a great ally for removing some stains, such as limescale.
Be sure to test the products on an inconspicuous area first. To do this, rub a small spot in a hidden area of the floor (for example under a sofa). Come back after 5-10 minutes to see if there is any obvious damage
Step 5. Dry the floor with a rag (optional)
While this will give it a nice sheen, there should hardly be any more moisture on the floor; this means you can also let it dry on its own.
Advice
- When your guests are arriving, lay rugs on the floor in the busiest areas. They are elegant and functional solutions, and they allow you to spare your floors the trauma of high heels and heavy shoes, which could leave marks. If you'd rather not use mats, consider at least placing one near the exterior entrances. These will collect most of the dirt that visitors might bring into the house, making the party a little less of a hassle for your home.
- Ask a specialist if your floor wood requires wax or polishing. These procedures keep the surfaces bright and shiny, although they will become a little slippery for a few days. Always polish in a circular motion starting from a corner of the room and moving towards the door. The same goes for wax; at the end of the treatment avoid walking on the floor for at least 30-60 minutes.
- If you happen to notice a scratch on the floor, don't panic - go to a hardware store and buy a wood repair kit that matches your floor color and some wax. Using the kit, paint very carefully on the scratch following the grain of the wood. Let the paint dry before applying the wax with a brush until it matches the smoothness of the surrounding boards.
