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How to Clean Your Hardwood Floors

by Jeff Hosking – Hosking Hardwood Flooring
© 2004 - 2012, Copyright protected. All Rights Reserved

Protect your new or old hardwood flooring

how to clean hardwood floorsToday's pre-finished floors are very durable in terms of wear and tear and they can last for 60 to 100 years but the biggest threat to hardwood flooring is dirt and grit that gets ground into the surface of the finish, causing ugly scratches and a worn finish. If the floor is left unattended dirt will become embedded into the worn unprotected surface of the wood causing ugly dark areas within the floor. On average, homeowners sand and refinish their wood floors every 15 to 25 years to make them look brand new again. To make the finish look and last the longest it is recommended to vacuum or sweep up dirt and grit off the hardwood floor weekly using the recommended cleaner and a soft bristle brush attachment to prevent scratching the wood flooring. Using the wrong cleaner can damage the finish and cause premature fading it can also void any manufacturers finish warranty.

how to clean hardwood floorsPrevention is key when it comes to safeguarding your new hardwood floors. Use good bristle doormats at all entrances to trap small stones and dirt before it has a chance to reach hardwood. If you have pets especially big dogs that run in the home make sure nails are trimmed and accidents are cleaned up immediately. To prevent furniture legs from scratching the floors use protective felt chair glides we offer them is several colors and sizes. Using these furniture glides will make sliding heavy furniture around safer. Furniture manufacturers usually only provide cheap undersized casters on their furniture which can cause damage to your hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring manufacturers do not warranty their flooring against indentations in the surface of the wood flooring caused by anything being rolled or dragged over the surface. We would suggest replacing any hard plastic casters with wider rubber casters that will not indent or mar the woods surface. Spiked/Stiletto heeled shoes can also indent the surface of the wood.

Never Use: Water and/or Vinegar, Furniture Polish, Wax-Based products, Detergents, Bleach, Polishes, Oil Soaps, Abrasive products or Acidic materials to clean hardwood flooring. Water can seep into the seams of the wood causing delamination of the finish, cupping of the edges of the boards and discoloration of the wood itself. Spills should be wiped up right away. Because steam cleaning can damage your hardwood flooring most all manufacturers do not recommend steam cleaning your wood flooring.


 

 


At Hosking Hardwood Flooring, we have all the manufacturers recommended cleaners and mop kits available to make the maintenance chore of cleaning your flooring easy. There are specially designed mops, which you can find here, which feature reusable terry cloth covers. These are perfect for picking up dust around corners of your room and won't harm you new hardwood floors.

You also need to make sure that any spills are cleaned up immediately. Liquid spills left standing on hardwood flooring can seep down through the seams of the boards which could cause the edges of the wood flooring to cup and/or buckle.

When your new hardwood floor is in need of a more thorough cleaning, make sure to use a hardwood flooring cleaner. Apply the cleaner directly to the floor and then use a terry cloth mop to clean the surface.

how to clean hardwood floorsBecause hardwood flooring is a natural product, it's inevitable that your floor will pick up some signs of use and wear over the years, especially in higher traffic areas. If your hardwood floor needs to be "refreshed," Bona Kemi (a leading supplier of hardwood/laminate floor cleaners) makes a Hardwood Floor Refresher, which will restore the gloss level on your floor.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND USING ORANGE-GLO PRODUCTS ON ANY HARDWOOD FLOORING. We've had many homeowners come to us with with problems when they have used Orange Glo on their wood floors—the product apparently leaves a sticky and dull film, which attracts dust and dirt and can damage the finish on hardwood flooring.


 

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How to Clean My Hardwood Flooring
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Overall Rating: 4.4 stars - 14 reviews

By:
Date: March 10, 2020
Page Rating: (4.0/5)
Comments:
I read on the WOCA website not to use microfiber mop heads on oiled wood floors. Please clarify.
Reply by HoskingHardwood : Not sure what you read on the WOCA website. Different manufacturers may have different methods on what to or what not to not to use etc. We go over the basics with our articles. 
By:
Date: August 8, 2017
Page Rating: (5.0/5)
Comments:
I have found your articles to be some of the more honest and comprehensive available online--and Ive been doing a lot of research. Thanks.
Reply by HoskingHardwood : Thank you we try and cover everything. 
By:
Date: May 21, 2017
Page Rating: (3.0/5)
Comments:
A good home remedy would. E good for a lot of wood floors thankyou
By:
Date: January 6, 2017
Page Rating: (5.0/5)
Comments:
Very helpful. The tips section proved best. Thanks.
By:
Date: December 13, 2016
Page Rating: (5.0/5)
Comments:
Very informative
By:
Date: July 3, 2016
Page Rating: (5.0/5)
Comments:
My husband recently scrubbed a stain with the wrong product which caused the wood colour to fade in those places. Can the original colour be restored? How?
By:
Date: February 8, 2016
Page Rating: (5.0/5)
Comments:
We will be first time wood floor owners and this article is very informative in helping us make the right choices in keeping our floors beautiful for years to come.
By:
Date: December 4, 2015
Page Rating: (3.5/5)
Comments:
I learned what NOT to use on my hardwood floors.
By:
Date: July 29, 2015
Page Rating: (5.0/5)
Comments:
How do I remove floor wax from my hand scraped hardwood flooring? Thank you
By:
Date: March 23, 2015
Page Rating: (5.0/5)
Comments:
Excellent article with lots of good, detailed info. Thanks!

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