Floors take a lot of wear, including daily traffic and inevitable spills, scuffs, or mishaps.
In addition to daily preventative practices, cleaning wood floors helps keep your home’s flooring in top shape.
Learn how to clean hardwood floors, plus how to remove stains from wood floors.
Credit:BHG / DANIELLE MOORE
Do not use a vacuum with a beater bar attachment, which can scratch a wood floor’s finish.
For quick dusting, use disposable electrostatic cloths.
You may want to do thiscleaning in the springorright before and after the holidays.
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Damp Mop and Rinse
Damp-mop the floor, being careful to prevent standing water on the floor.
If the cleaning product requires it, rinse the surface with a clean mop dampened in clean water.
Wipe Up Excess Liquid
Wipe up excess liquid immediately because standing water can damage wood surfaces.
Credit:BHG/ Danielle Moore
If the stain is on the surface, your floor probably has a hard finish.
If the finish stain has penetrated through to the wood, the floor probably has a soft oiled finish.
For floors with a hard finish, wipesurface stains and spillswith a soft, clean cloth.
Credit:BHG/ Danielle Moore
The following remedies are for hardwood floors with soft oiled finishes.
000 steel wool and floor wax.
Rinse with a damp cloth.
Credit:BHG / Danielle Moore
Remove Heel Marks
Use fine steel wool to rub in floor wax.
Rinse with clear water.
If one utility doesn’t work, repeat the procedure.
Let the spot dry, then smooth the raised grain with fine sandpaper.
Keep children and pets out of the room until you’re done.
Remove Water Marks or White Stains
Rub the spot with No.
000 steel wool and floor wax.
A regular once-over with atop-quality broomor dust mop will do wonders for cleaning hardwood floors.
For a deeper clean, scrub floors once monthly.
Do: Use Greenguard Gold Certified Cleaners.
This means the products are safe to use in homes with kids and pets.
Otherwise, try the natural route with ahomemade cleaning solutionfor your floors.
Baking soda and lemon can damage hardwood flooring.
Avoid cleaning waxed or unfinished wood with vinegar, which can cause discoloration.
see to it tovacuumor sweep before cleaning floors to prevent dust from spreading around when mopping.
Rather than letting floors air dry, use a soft cloth or towel to buff them dry.
