How to Clean a Hardwood Floor

Naturally strong, naturally beautiful: that’s the appeal of hardwood flooring—and also what makes it a great investment. As with any long-term investment, you’ll want to ensure its value is preserved well into the future. By following these hardwood flooring cleaning tips, you can help maintain the beauty and condition of your floor for decades to come.

Hardwood flooring gives any room style and character. Its toughness, unique patterns, and natural warmth are a worthy investment, but it needs to be maintained. It’s especially important to follow the Warranty, Installation, and Care (WIC) guidelines for your specific flooring. Hardwood floors are generally easy to take care of, but the process requires both regular cleaning and maintenance and using the best tools and products.

LL Flooring is proud to offer both engineered and solid hardwood. Cleaning methods for the two are similar and will extend the life of your flooring.

The Quick and Clean Guide to Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Maintenance:

DOs

• Do - use a dust mop/ broom/ or vacuum daily
• Do - use a dry cloth for spills or damp cloth for sticky spills
• Do - periodically use Bellawood Floor Care kit
• Do - use non-slip rugs or mats at sinks and entrance ways (rug pads should be non-solvent based, waffle-type rubber)
• Do - use ice on chewing gum to harden and remove with plastic scraper
• Do - use felt protection on furniture legs

DON'Ts

• Don't - use oil base, wax, polish, or strong abrasive cleaners
• Don't - use steel wool or scouring powder
• Don't - wash or wet mop with soap, water, oil-soap, or any liquid that can harm the floor
• Don't - use steam cleaners
• Don’t – leave spills, clean them up immediately

The Step by Step Guide to Keeping Your Hardwood Floors Clean and Beautiful

Day-to-Day Cleaning

For day to day cleaning, we recommend the floor be swept and/or vacuumed. The vacuum head must be a felt brush type. Do not use a vacuum with beater bars / very hard bristles. This will eliminate fine particles of dirt and grit that act like sandpaper which can scratch and / or dull the surface of your flooring.

Minimize abrasive material and dirt by placing mats on both sides of exterior doors and by using area rugs in high-traffic areas. We recommend the use of NON-RUBBER backed mats that are labeled “colorfast” by the manufacturer. Non-staining, vinyl-backed mats or woven rugs should be used at all door entries from outside to avoid discoloration from asphalt driveways, catch dirt, grit, sand, and other debris to help sustain the flooring. We also recommend using protective mats around sinks and tubs to catch excess water and debris.

Keeping your floor dirt-free is an important first step in helping to prevent scratches. This is especially important when it comes to grit-textured dirt or sand, because shoes and other objects can drag the coarse grains across the floor and cause scrapes.

Although our finished hardwood products come with a protective coating, it’s still essential to clean up spills quickly using a clean, absorbent cloth. The longer liquids stay on the floor, the higher the chance they’ll seep between the boards and cause damage. If you’re worried about frequent spills and splashes, you may want to consider our water-resistant AquaSeal engineered hardwood.

Deep Cleaning

For hardwood floor cleaning, the basics you’ll need include a sweeper, dry mop, and cleaner—all items you can find among the care and protection products we offer here at LL Flooring. We also have convenient cleaning kits that contain all you need—including felt pads for protecting your floor from furniture.

Follow these simple instructions to clean your wood floors: 

• Sweep or vacuum your floor to remove dirt and debris.
• Spray a specially formulated floor cleaner lightly over the area you are cleaning.
• Wipe off with a microfiber mop in the same direction as the wood grain.
• Sweep or vacuum regularly to help prevent dirt from accumulating.
• Follow up occasionally with a cleaning formula designed for hardwood, such as Bellawood Floor Cleaner. This will tackle grime without leaving behind a residue that can dull the shine of your floor.

Never pour water directly onto your floor or wet mop the floor like you would ceramic tiles. Even small amounts of water can cause hard water spots, clouding or deterioration to the finish or edge cup the wood. Only use products specifically designed or safe for urethane finished floors.

How often do you need to clean floors that are hardwood? Just like any household cleaning task, that will depend on the activity in your household. For regular hardwood floor maintenance, sweep or vacuum a few times a week to keep dust and dirt at bay. Follow up once weekly with a deep cleaner in high-traffic areas or once monthly for rooms with less use.

How Often Should I Clean My Wood Floors?

Regular cleaning helps prevent the buildup of day-to-day wear. This process can fit naturally into your everyday lifestyle, including sweeping and dusting, damp mopping, and using specialized wood flooring products. If this sounds like a lot, breaking these steps down into a regular cleaning schedule will make it a breeze.

A regular cleaning schedule can look like this:

• Accidents: Clean accidental spills and pet messes as soon as they happen to avoid water damage.
• Regularly: Sweep or dust mop to remove dust and dirt.
• Weekly: Thoroughly dry-mop (only with approved cleaner) your wood floor weekly to preserve its shine.
• Monthly: Use a specially formulated hardwood floor cleaner for care and protection.

What Should You NOT Clean Hardwood Floors With?

Do not use a vacuum with beater bars or tough bristles on a hardwood floor. A felt brush head is best. And never steam or wet mop your hardwood floor.

Also, steer clear of formulas containing wax, oil, or polish since they will leave a residue that will eventually form a dull film over your flooring's surface. And last but not least, keep steel wool or scouring pads far away! You can find more information about suitable cleaning products in your flooring's Warranty, Installation, and Care guide.

Want to learn more? Browse our Flooring 101 for additional care tips, flooring basics, and style inspiration.

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