Whether your home came with hardwood floors or you upgraded them after you moved in, hardwood is an investment worth protecting. And for that, it’s important to know how to properly clean and maintain hardwood floors. Here’s how to keep your hardwood floors in top shape for years to come.
Vacuum your floors before cleaning them
Before you apply any type of cleaning solution to your hardwood floors, it’s a good idea to first run a vacuum over them to remove dirt and debris. If your vacuum has a “hardwood floor” setting, that’s what you’ll want to use. If you’re not comfortable using a vacuum, you can vacuum your floors before vacuuming, but many vacuum cleaners are rated for hardwood floors and designed to be non-damaging.
Use the right cleaning solutions and tools
Hardwood floors need to be treated with care so they keep their structure and finish, so it’s important to use the right cleaning products. “A big mistake homeowners make is using vinegar or acidic-based solutions. The acid in the vinegar eats away at the end of the floor, making it. It deteriorates faster,” says Stefan Bukur, founder and owner of Rhythm of the Home, a home design business in Lewisville, Texas.
Jeremy Henley, founder, and CEO of Carlsbad, California-based real estate technology company TheQwikFix, agrees. “Opt for a gentle, pH-neutral cleaner designed specifically for hardwood floors,” he says.
There are wood cleaning products you can buy that don’t contain harsh chemicals or acidic solutions, and you can find them at your local home improvement store. But if you’d rather make your own solution, you can use biodegradable soap or a mixture of castile soap and water. In general, you’ll want to use a small amount of soap—as little as a teaspoon—mixed with several cups of water.
Regardless of the solution you use, if you’re putting a new product to work (either one you bought or made yourself), it’s a good idea to test it on a small patch of flooring that won’t be too visible. You can, for example, test an area of hardwood under a piece of furniture and make sure you like the results before using that product throughout your home.
In addition to using the right solution, it’s important to use the right tools when cleaning your floors. The best option for cleaning hardwood is a microfiber mop or cloth, Bukur says.
Do not oversaturate your floor
Once you find the right cleaning solution to use on your hardwood floors, you need to be careful not to over-apply it. As a general rule, if your floors are too wet, you’ve gone overboard.
“(Oversaturating) can cause unnecessary water damage to prefinished hardwood floors, and can cause the infamous wood warping and expansion effect where your wood planks expand and move out of their position,” Bukur says.
Use sealant every few years
You don’t need to use sealant every time you clean your hardwood floors. In fact, you especially shouldn’t. But you should aim to seal the floors every few years to help prevent damage and keep them looking their best.
“Sealant combined with a hardwood finish can make your wood floors look shiny and brand new, and is the default choice for most homeowners who want to liven up their hardwood floors without spending a lot of money,” says Bukur.
Make it a part of your routine
You can decide to clean your hardwood floors once a week or once every other week. But in fact, cleaning and dusting every other day will make them easier to clean and maintain.
“The easiest and most effective way to keep your hardwood floors looking clean and shiny is to dust and sweep them regularly. This will help remove dirt, grime, and other particles that can scratch and dull your floor’s surface,” says Henley. “Use a soft, dry cloth or dust mop to gently sweep the floor, making sure to get into the nooks and crannies.”
Give your floors ongoing protection
It’s important to use the right cleaning solution for your hardwood floors so they don’t get damaged. But there are other steps you can take along these lines.
Henley advises avoiding walking on hardwood floors in high heels that are likely to cause chips or dents. He suggests using felt pads under furniture legs to prevent holes and scratching.
Placing rugs in high-traffic areas of your home can help your hardwood floors last longer. Also, rugs are a great way to spruce up and add some texture to your interior.
“With a little regular care and attention, your hardwood floors will remain a stunning and timeless feature of your home,” says Henley.