What Can You Use to Clean Wood Floors?
Although there are a myriad of wood flooring options, several cleaning guidelines apply to most types of wood floors. Avoid soaking the floor in water or using harsh chemicals, both of which will damage your wood floor--sometimes permanently. Preventive cleaning of wood floors is always the best approach, as it removes dirt before the mess has a chance to permanently stain your floor. Does this Spark an idea?
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Basic Tools
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A dry dust mop, soft broom and vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment that can reach into corners are the best tools to clean wood floors. By employing these regularly, you can clean up the everyday dust, dirt and grime that gets tracked over your floors. Removing dirt particles quickly prevents ground-in stains, as well as helps stop stepped-on dirt from permanently scratching the wood floor. If your floor needs more cleaning than a dry instrument provides, lightly dampen a mop and run it over the floor. Never clean wood floors with a soaked mop, as this can lead to water stains and buckled or cracked wood.
Wood Floor Cleaning Products
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There are several options of wood floor cleaning products at hardware or home stores. These cleaners are designed specifically to clean wood floors without staining the surface. The water-based cleaners are best for well-finished floors. Read the labels to find a cleaner with a neutral pH level, especially if your wood floor is newly finished. The pH level, which means the acidity and alkalinity of the product, can help determine which cleaner is best for your situation. Alkaline products--those with a high pH--work to dissolve dirt and grease stains but can dull your wood floors over time. Acidic products--with a low pH--break up mineral deposits and can get rid of film on your floor, but they do not clean dirt well.
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Vinegar Solution
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White vinegar is acidic, with a low pH, which does not make it ideal to clean dirt from wood floors. However, a vinegar solution will cut through films and mineral deposits that can dull floors. Mix 1/4 cup of white or cider vinegar with 1 gallon of water. Dampen a cotton cloth with the solution and wipe it gently over the wood floor to remove build up. Do not soak the cloth or the floor with the vinegar solution, as this will damage the wood.
What to Avoid
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The first rule of cleaning wood floors is if you use water, use it sparingly. Barely damp cloths or sponges are as wet as you should get when it comes to wood floor care. If you do use liquids to clean your wood floors, immediately dry the area with a clean, cotton towel. Stay away from abrasive cleaning instruments, such as steel wool, which scratch wood floors. Also stay away from ammonia- and oil-based soaps, which dull wood floors' finishes and could make it harder for you to re-coat the flooring. If basic tools, wood cleaners or vinegar do not fully clean your floors, it may be time to sand and refinish the wood to restore the floor's beauty.
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References
- Photo Credit hardwood floor texture image by GoodMood Photo from Fotolia.com
