How to Make Hardwood Floors Shine

The easy care and beauty of hardwood floors make them especially popular in homes across the world. There are many hardwood varieties from which to choose, and each has its own way of wear and tear. Keeping hardwood floors clean and shiny is something every homeowner should know how to do.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hardwood floor wax
• Polyurethane cleaner
• Mop
• Broom

1. Sweep the hardwood flooring. Remove all excess dust and dirt from the surface of the floor. This reduces the chance of foreign objects scratching the surface of the hardwood.

2. Inspect the hardwood carefully. Each type of wood has its own cleaning demands. Some hardwood floors have a wax applied, whereas others will not.

3. Wax a hardwood floor with a quality paste wax available at most hardware, grocery or home improvement stores. Consult with the staff to choose the correct wax for the hardwood floor.

4. Prepare a solution of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water in a bucket. Mop the hardwood floor with this to solution to remove any residue or loose material.

5. Sand the hardwood floors with a professional sander. These machines rent from equipment renters and rent by the day or half day. Only sand floors when they are old and scuffed beyond waxing or polishing.

6. Use a simple polyurethane finish cleaner that will not harm the hardwood surface. Products like Zepp or even a Swiffer pad clean hardwood flooring very well.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult with the home builder to correctly identify the type of hardwood flooring in the home.
• Test an inconspicuous area of the hardwood floor with a small drop of water. Let the water drop sit for about 10 minutes. If the water leaves a small dark stain, the floor is most likely waxed.