Hardwood floors offer many benefits that carpeted floors cannot. One of the more notable benefits being they are easy to clean. Or are they? If by clean you mean sanitize, then yes, we’ll concede that’s a much easier task to perform on hardwood versus carpet. However, if you’re looking for more than just an antiseptic hot-wash then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will walk through a cleaning process that not only cleans your hardwood floors but restores them with a shine and rediscovered beauty.
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Ready to bring your hardwood floors back to life? Give us a call today at (617) 855~0481 to get a free quote and speak to a cleaning professional. We clean all types of floors in all types of conditions.
While there are many types of wooden floors (e.g. oak, maple, cherry, walnut etc.), for the purposes of this guide, we will not be getting into the nuances of each type. Our goal is to shed light for all hardwood floor owners on basic but powerful ways in which they can both clean and restore their floors to their former glory.
The Two Classes Of Hardwood
Hardwood floors can really be boiled down into two distinct classes: Solid Hardwood and Engineered Hardwood. The difference between these two classes plays a role in how each should be cleaned.
Solid Hardwood Flooring
While it may have been chopped, shaped and varnished, solid hardwood is harvested directly from a tree. This an important distinction because, with solid hardwood, you can continue to sand off layers and encounter the same material. One of the tricky things about solid hardwood is its sensitivity to moisture, although this can also be a strength when repairing certain types of damage.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered Hardwood is exactly that, engineered. Engineered wood is made of several layers of wood or plywood, with a thin layer of hardwood veneer as the top surface. The benefits of its construction are stability, resilience to moisture and heat and sustainability (requires less trees to manufacture). As for cons, engineered hardwood is comparably less durable than solid hardwood and less repairable as the thin layer of hardwood veneer can only be re-sanded a limited number of times before it’s completely worn through.
Pre-Clean Prep
What’s The Finish?
How you clean your floors depends on what type of finish has been applied. A surface finish like polyurethane is more water resistant than a penetrating finish like wax or oil.
How To Clean A Polyurethane Finished Hardwood Floor
Cleaning hardwood floors with a surface finish like polyurethane is a lot more straightforward and forgiving than a penetrating finish. Polyurethane provides a water and scratch resistant coating which opens up options to more water-based, scrub intensive cleaning methods.
Daily Dusting
We recommend running a microfiber dust mop over your hardwood floors daily to minimize the amount of grit that will otherwise be ground into your floor by foot traffic.
Weekly Cleaning
Vacuum and mop using a mild pH-neutral cleaner diluted with water or a cleaner designed for polyurethane sealed hardwood floors. Always wring the mop to avoid water pooling and when you’re finished, run a fresh microfiber cloth or dust mop over it to grab any excess moisture.
Periodic Deep Cleaning
Every few months we recommend a more intensive cleaning using a protective cleaner specifically designed to both clean and add a protective layer to the polyurethane that fills in scratches and provides added resilience against future damage.
Emergency Cleaning
For the inevitable spill or unexpected liquid surprise for your floors, taking fast action to absorb the spill and dry the spot will usually be sufficient. If you encounter a tougher stain or scuff, use a slightly damp cloth with a bit of your heavy duty floor cleaner to gently rub it out.
Maintenance
Depending on the traffic and condition of your hardwood floors, you should re-coat your floors every 3 to 5 years.
How To Clean An Oil Or Wax Finished Hardwood Floor
Daily Cleaning
You should consider either sweeping with a soft bristle brook or vacuuming with a soft bristle attachment on a daily basis to protect your floors from being ground down by grit underfoot.
Weekly Cleaning
Dry mop your floors once a week to capture accumulated dust, debris, hair etc. that evaded the daily sweep or vacuum.
Periodic Deep Cleaning
About once a month, you should clean the floor with the manufacturer recommended cleaning solution that you can typically find on the label (if not, on google).
Emergency Cleaning
For spills and thrills, quickly dry with a high absorbency towel (or whatever you have on hand) and monitor for deeper permeation and staining. If discoloration starts to emerge, cautiously apply your manufacturer recommended cleaner with a slightly damp cloth and monitor your floor’s reaction (less is always more).
Maintenance
Depending on the condition and level of traffic your floor sees, you may need to refinish once every 6 to 24 months. We recognize this is a large time gap, so use your best judgment based on your particular preference and knowledge of your floors.
Conclusion
Hardwood floors, like carpets, can be finicky and sensitive in their own unique ways. When it comes to keeping your hardwood floors clean and healthy, you should always lead with some practical preventive measures. Clean your traffic, then your floors. Use indoor and outdoor mats, and rugs in high-traffic areas to catch dirt and debris before they hit the floor. Use furniture pads to avoid scuffing and scratching and never use vinegar, ammonia or abrasive cleaners as they can damage or dull the finish. If you aren’t quite sure where to start or just have better things to do, give us a call and we’ll transform your worn out floors into a shining masterpiece.
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Get started today with stunningly clean hardwood floors that will leave lasting impressions on your guests or customers. Call us now at (617) 855~0481 or check us out online at our website, or on social media: facebook, twitter, instagram.
Carpet Cleaning Cambridge MA is your go-to local expert for a fresh, clean home or office. Specializing in a comprehensive range of services including Carpet Cleaning, Air Duct Cleaning, Hardwood Floor Cleaning, Tile & Grout Cleaning, Pet Stain & Odor Removal, and Upholstery Cleaning, we’re dedicated to enhancing your living spaces. Whether tackling stubborn stains or routine maintenance, we deliver exceptional results with customer satisfaction at the core.