Keeping floors constantly clean can be a daunting task. Kids, pets and even adults tend to be messy, and, it’s not always that those coming into your home will wipe their feet on the welcome mat you have placed at the entrance. The good news is that there a few simple methods that you can follow to keep your hardwood floors looking clean and pristine. The article below will feature an in-depth discussion on the best hardwood floor cleaning techniques.

Top Ways to Clean Your Hardwood Floors

1. Dry Cleaning

Just like clothes, floors can also be dry cleaned. However, unlike dry cleaning linens, dry cleaning floors is relatively cheap. To dry clean floors, you simply need to sweep, dry mop, or, vacuum your floors on a regular basis. You should do this more often if you have kids who play inside the house or pets that shed. Regular dry cleaning will help get rid of small crumbs and debris that can scratch your flooring and wear down the top finish causing it lose its sheen over time.

2. Liquid Cleaning

Though you dry cleaning will help you get rid of crumbs and dust, it is not usually very effective in removing dirt that collects over a long period of time. If you are looking to deep-clean your floors, you will need to use a liquid cleaning agent.

One way to deep-clean your floors is to use a warranty-approved, wood-cleaning agent purchased from a local store. You can also use a homemade cleaning liquid such as a solution made of 1 part vinegar and 10 parts warm water. In the homemade solution, you can add a few dollops of plant-based soap such as liquid castle soap. The vinegar and water solution will remove all dirt on your hardwood floors while the soap will aid in removing grime. If you want your home to have an alluring scented smell after you are done cleaning, you can also add a few drops of scented essential oils to the cleaning agent.

When cleaning hardwood floors with a liquid cleaner, ensure that you first wring the mop so that it is damp instead of wet. If you wash your hardwood floors using a wet mop, they can end up warping. On mopping your floors using a damp mop, get rid of any moisture on your floors by wiping them with a dry towel.

3. Steam Cleaning

NOTE: Though this cleaning method features in this article, it is not advisable to clean wooden floors through steam cleaning. Steam cleaning usually works when used on floors that are fully sealed in such a way that they cannot absorb moisture. Most hardwood floors are not usually sealed which means that when steam cleaned, they will likely absorb moisture and warp permanently.

Final Word

Before settling on a hardwood floor cleaning technique, ensure that you first check if your flooring has a valid warranty cover in place and what the warranty covers. Whether your flooring is new or old, your local Raleigh Flooring experts have all the answers and solutions to help you keep your floors clean and pristine. We are also here to help you with hardwood floor cleaning tasks of any magnitude. Contact us today to get your hardwood floors cleaned professionally today!