Cleaning Hardwood Floors

Correctly cleaning your hardwood floors will help to maintain their natural beauty.

Hardwood floors can be a stunning element in a home, conveying both elegance and spaciousness. Cleaning them can often be a challenging task. Without proper maintenance, hardwood floors can quickly become dull, dirty and unattractive. By carefully and consistently caring for your floors, you can make sure that wood's timeless natural beauty and design continue to shine through.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Soft-bristled broom
• Light vacuum cleaner
• Fine steel wool sponge
• Alcohol
• Cleaning bucket
• Mop
• Hardwood Floor Cleaner

1. Clean the floor thoroughly with a light vacuum cleaner or a soft bristled broom. Remove as much surface dirt and grime as you can. Use both for maximum effectiveness.

2. Using a fine steel wool sponge, gently scrub the stained parts of the floor with a little bit of alcohol. Deeper stains may need heavier sanding in order to be completely removed.

3. Mix together 1/2 cup of vinegar with 1 gallon of hot water in the cleaning bucket. Dip your mop in the solution. Completely wring out the liquid so that the mop is damp, not wet. Wipe down your floor, following the direction for the grain of the wood. When the vinegar solution in the bucket becomes dirty, dump it out and create a new solution before continuing.

4. Use Bruce Hardwood Floor Cleaner for polyurethane treated floors. Mop the floor with this recommended cleaning solution or use the spray version and wipe the floor with a microfiber cloth.

5. Once or twice a year, wax or buff your floors to make them shine. Use the specific products recommended by your floor manufacturer, and always buff in the same direction as the grain of the wood.

Tips & Warnings

• Water can quickly damage hardwood floors. Immediately remove wet spills. Dry them as thoroughly as possible. Never use a wet mop to clean. Always wring the mop thoroughly until it is damp. Using small area rugs and carpet runner on high traffic areas can help to preserve the quality of your hardwood floors.

• Avoid products such as Orange Glo, Murphy's Oil or Pledge. The oil in these cleaners can cause damage to your hardwood, and they will leave a dull film on your floors.

Resources

• Bruce Hardwood Floor Cleaner
• About Hardwood Floors