How to Clean Hardwood Flooring

Vacuum, dust, sweep, or dry mop hardwood floors to remove dirt, dust, pet hair, etc. If vacuuming, use a soft bristled floor attachment. This should be done daily or as often as needed.

• Do NOT use steam cleaners, as they use heat and small amounts of water that can lead to cupping and long term damage.

• Do NOT use vinegar, ammonia, or abrasive cleaners, as they can dull the finish over time.

• Water and wood do NOT mix!!

• Microfiber mops and electrostatic mops work the best when cleaning. You can toss them in the washer and dryer and re-use them for a very long time. Do NOT use fabric softener when washing, as it will clog the open spaces in the microfiber that clean the floors.

• Once the floors are vacuumed or swept, use a hardwood floor cleaner that can be squirted or sprayed on the floor using a microfiber mop.

There are many different kinds of hardwood flooring cleaning products:

• Minwax Hardwood Floor Cleaner

• Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner

• Pledge Floor Care Squirt and Mop

• Libman Hardwood Floor Cleaner

• Murphy’s Squirt and Mop Wood Cleaner

• Holloway House Quick Shine Hardwood Floor Luster

There are many Eco-Friendly cleaners as well:

• Attitude Floor Surfaces Tile and Wood Cleaner

• Better Life Simply Floored! Floor Cleaner

• BioKleen Bac-Out Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner

• Earth Friendly Products Floor Cleaner

• Method Squirt and Mop Wood Floor Cleaner

• Naturally It’s Clean! Floors

• Simple Green Naturals Floor Care

You can also sand and refinish hardwood floors approximately 3-4 times to look brand new and hide imperfections.

Personally, I use the Dyson V8 vacuum daily. For cleaning, I either use the Shark Spray and Mop with Shark Hardwood Floor Cleanser or a microfiber mop with a spray cleaner. I also use Holloway House Quick Shine Floor Finish for an extra shine that makes the floors look like they were just refinished.