How to Steam Clean Wood

Hardwood floors increase the value of your home.

Hardwood floors add a rustic and elegant look to a room. Hardwood floors also increase the value of your home. Over time, your hardwood floors can become dirty and dingy. During these times, cleaning your wood floors with a mop alone does no good. Steam cleaning hardwood floors and wood paneling allows you to remove stuck on dirt and grime without damaging you flooring and walls. To steam clean walls and floors you will need a steam cleaner with a large brush attachment, mop towels and extension tubes.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Dust pan
• Duster or dust mop
• Steam cleaner with large brush attachments, towels and extension tubes.
• Steam cleaner solution

Instructions

Steam Cleaning Wood Floors

1. Remove all items such as rugs and furniture from the hardwood floors.

2. Sweep the wood floors with a broom to remove the surface dirt and debris.

3. Fill the steam cleaner canister with water and---if using it---the steam cleaner solution.

4. Attach one mop towel to the large brush attachment for hardwood floors.

5. Preheat the steam mop with the steam switched "on." Once the mop part of the steam cleaner has became hot, turn the steam off.

6. Start at one corner of the room and work towards another corner. Push the steam cleaner in a back and forth motion just like you would a vacuum cleaner.

7. Reheat the steam mop when the towels become cold.

8. Continue moving the steam mop across the wood floors, reheating when necessary until the floor is thoroughly cleaned.

Steam Cleaning Wood Paneling

1. Remove pictures, mirrors, paintings or other wall decorations from the wood paneling.

2. Dust off any cobwebs with a duster or dust mop that may be clinging to the wood paneling or the corners.

3. Fill the steam cleaner canister with water and---if using it---the steam cleaner solution.

4. Attach two to three towels for wood paneling.

5. Preheat the steam mop with the steam switched "on." Once the mop part of the steam cleaner has became hot, turn the steam off.

6. Start at the stop of the wall and work downward in a slow and steady motion.

7. Reheat the towels of the steam mop when they become cold.

8. Continue moving the steam mop up and down across the wood paneling until all the paneling has been cleaned.

References

• OnlineTips.org: Steam Cleaning Hardwood Floors
• Sylvane: Steam Cleaning Tips and Techniques
• Just Renew It Industrial Supply: Mopping with a Steam Cleaner