Wood is a natural material, which means it’s a little more sensitive. Whether you have solid oak, maple, or engineered planks, knowing how to clean hardwood floors can be the difference between long-lasting or short-lived floors.
We’ve seen how the wrong cleaning habits, like using too much water or the wrong chemicals, can dull the finish over time.
Here’s a guide to keeping your floors in great condition.
Your weekly hardwood routine
To maintain that new look, it’s helpful to be consistent. We recommend doing the following steps once a week:
- Dust instead of sweep: While a broom works, a microfiber dust mop is superior. Its electrostatic fibers trap dirt and dust rather than pushing them around or scratching the wood.
- Vacuum with care: If you prefer vacuuming, ensure the roller is turned off. A rotating brush designed for carpet can leave tiny scratches on a wood finish.
- Use pH-neutral cleaners: Avoid homemade solutions with high acidity (like only vinegar) or harsh wax-based polishes unless specified by the manufacturer. A pH-neutral cleaner specifically formulated for wood is the safest choice.
- The damp rule: Never use a soaking wet mop. Wood is porous, and excess water can seep in, causing the wood to swell or warp. Your mop should be barely damp to the touch.
Protection
Cleaning is just the beginning! To keep your floors pristine, consider these preventive measures:
- Use furniture pads: Place plastic or felt protectors under the legs of chairs and tables.
- Watch the sun: Direct UV rays can fade wood over time. Use sheer curtains during the brightest parts of the day.
- Trim pet nails: Keep your pets’ claws trimmed to prevent little scratches in the topcoat.
Hardwood or engineered wood?
Solid wood is a single piece of a tree, and engineered wood is a thin veneer of real wood bonded over layers of plywood. While they look alike on the surface, solid hardwood and engineered wood need slightly different care strategies.
Let’s look at how to clean both:
Solid hardwood
Solid wood can be sanded and refinished multiple times, but it’s sensitive to humidity.
- Deep clean once or twice a year.
- Use a concentrated wood soap that is designed to lift ingrained dirt from the grain without leaving a film.
- Before deep cleaning, perform the bead test. Drop a tiny amount of water on a high-traffic area. If it beads up, the seal is strong. If it soaks in, skip the liquid cleaner and ask a professional for a screen and coat to restore the finish.
Engineered wood
Engineered planks are more stable in humid environments, but the top layer of real wood is thin. If you damage it, you can't always sand it back.
- Never use a steam mop on engineered floors. The heat and pressurized moisture can break down the adhesives holding the layers together, and the top layer can peel.
- Instead of dipping a mop into a bucket, use a spray bottle to mist the cleaner directly onto a microfiber pad. This gives you total control over the moisture level.
- Engineered floors are often locked together. Cleaning should focus on preventing any liquid from sitting in the grooves between planks, since the core material can swell more easily than solid wood.
Contact Merry Maids
Hardwood floors are just one step in a clean home. With over 40 years of experience, Merry Maids can help you with your cleaning needs. Not only is our team bonded and insured for your safety, but our team members are trained to handle your home (and floors!) with care. Whatever your needs may be, our specialty cleaning services can be custom-designed to keep every room inviting.
Our specialty services include:
No matter what floor or specialty cleaning you need, you can count on your local Merry Maids with our 5-Star Promise(opens in a new window). If you’re not completely satisfied with our work, just let us know within 24-hours and we’ll make it right.
