Learn how clean your hardwood floors to an envious shine in this quick how-to video.
Here is the full text version of the article “How to clean hardwood floors”.
Hardwood floors look beautiful, but they are high maintenance. Dirt, oil and grit gets deposited on the floor daily and ground into the hardwood as people walk about their home. The grinding action causes etching which makes the wood appear dull. The best thing you can do to keep your floor scratch free and looking shiny is to remove shoes at the entrances to your home. The next best thing you can do is to vacuum as often as possible. Make sure to use soft bristle brooms and the hardwood floor setting on your vacuum. Newer hardwood floors are typically sealed with polyurethane or similar chemicals. This means these hardwood floors can be mopped with a damp, but not wet, mop. Be sure to choose a hardwood floor cleaner that has a neutral Ph; never, repeat never, use furnish polish to clean hardwood floors. Not even in the event of a spill or a small spot on the floor. Acids such as vinegar, certain teas and lemons are also very harmful to the finish on your hardwood flooring. If your wood floor is unsealed, never mop or even use products such as swiffer to clean them. Unsealed hardwood floors should always be cleaned by sweeping or vacuuming. Pencil erasers work quite well on scuff marks of hardwood floors. Even if you follow all the best practices for taking care of your hardwood floors, if regular cleaning is not making your floors shine – you most likely need your floors refinished.
