Keeping Hardwood Floors Clean
Sweep the floors every day with a soft-bristled broom. Regularly sweeping your hardwood floors will reduce dirt and grit buildup, which can scratch the surface of the wood. Take a soft-bristled broom to your floors and sweep up any dust or dirt from the surface, particularly from high-traffic areas such as the entrance to a room or a hallway. Only use a soft-bristled mop so you don’t scratch the surface of the wood.
Vacuum weekly with a floor nozzle to pick up dust and dirt. Use a floor-brush attachment to suck up dirt and debris from the surface of the hardwood floor without damaging it. Reach into the corners or crevices to pick up any dust or dirt that your sweeping missed. Avoid using a vacuum with brush rolls or one designed for carpets as they can scratch and damage your hardwood floors.Tip: Use a robot vacuum with soft bristles to continuously vacuum your hardwood floors and keep them clean!
Dust the floor with a disposable dusting cloth for a quick clean. Disposable dusting mops have a mild electrostatic charge that allows them to pick up more dust, hair, and dirt from your wood floors than sweeping and vacuuming. Run the cloth over the surface of your floors to dust them and be sure to reach into the nooks and crannies where dust likes to hide. You can also use a dry mop with a microfiber head to pick up dust and grime. Disposable dusting cloths are quick and easy to use, and you can throw them away when you’re finished. Look for disposable dusting cloths at department stores or online. Popular brands include Swiffer and Bona.
Mop the floors monthly with a wood floor mop and cleaner. For a deeper cleaning, use a wood floor mop with microfiber pads or strings and wood floor cleaner, which won’t strip or strain your hardwood. Dilute the wood floor cleaner in water in a bucket according to the instructions on the label. Dip the wood floor mop into the solution, wring out the excess water, and run the mop over the hardwood following the direction of the grain in the wood. Allow the floor to air dry fully before you walk over it. Work in sections so you don’t miss any spots and start at a far corner so you don’t box yourself into a room or hallway. Be sure to thoroughly wring out the mop so you don’t leave excess water on the surface of your hardwood floors, which could discolor or damage them. You can find wood floor mops and wood floor cleaner at home improvement stores, department stores, and online.
Wipe up spills and messes immediately with a damp cloth. Keep sticky residue from forming by wiping up any messes from your floor as soon as possible. Soak a clean cloth in warm water and wring it out well to remove the excess. Rub the mess up using gentle, circular motions to avoid damaging the wood. For stubborn messes, spray a little bit of wood-floor cleaner onto it and use a damp cloth to wipe it off. You can find wood-floor cleaner at home improvement stores, department stores, and online. Don’t allow moisture to sit on top of your wood floor or it could damage it.
Preventing Wear and Tear
Don't wear shoes on your hardwood floors. Shoes can scuff hardwood and cause wear and tear over time. Be extra careful about wearing cleats or shoes with heels on your hardwood floors since they can potentially damage them. Oils from your bare feet can actually degrade hardwood over time. Your safest bet is to only wear socks when walking on your floors.
Attach felt pads to your furniture legs and edges to avoid scratches. Place felt furniture pads on all of the furniture on top of your hardwood floors so they don’t scratch the surface. Add felt pads to any areas that contact the floor such as the edges or corners of sofas. You can find felt pads at department stores and online.
Trim the nails of any pets walking over the floors. Cat and dog claws can scratch the surface of hardwood floors and damage them over time. If you have pets that walk over your hardwood floors, keep their nails trimmed. Dogs can sometimes collect dirt and gravel between their paws that can scratch your hardwood floors as well, so be sure to check them before you let them back into the house. Generally, most dogs need to have their nails trimmed every 1-2 months, depending how fast they grow. Trim your cat's nails every 2 weeks.
Use protective window covers to reduce direct sunlight. The UV radiation in sunlight can damage hardwood floors, causing them to warp and fade over time. Install protective window coverings such as blinds and curtains, or keep the shades drawn over areas of the floor that receive direct exposure to keep them from being exposed. You can also place a rug over the floor to cover it from direct exposure to sunlight.
Rearrange rugs and furniture periodically so the floor ages evenly. Hardwood floors will slowly degrade as they age, but you can keep their appearance looking uniform and even by moving around the furniture and rugs in the room. Every 6 months or so, rearrange the items on top of the floor to redirect foot traffic and allow other areas of the floor to age and match the rest of the floor. Use the opportunity to clean your hardwood floors whenever you rearrange your furniture so dirt and grit don’t damage the surface.Warning: Never slide rugs or furniture when you’re moving them or you could scratch the surface. Have someone help you pick them straight up or use a dolly whenever you move them.
Refinish your hardwood floors every 3-5 years. Refinishing your hardwood floors with a new coat will restore their shine that fades after natural wear and tear. It will also add a protective layer to keep them from getting scratched or faded. Depending on how much use your floors receive, you’ll need to refinish them every 3 years or so. Rooms with hardwood floors that receive little traffic, such as guest bedrooms or dining rooms, may need to be refinished every 5 or 6 years, depending on how dull they appear. Before refinishing your floors, remove the baseboards and sand the surface with 40-, 80-, and 100- or 120-grit sandpaper. Then, vacuum up the leftover dust. Use a rag to apply the finish in swiping motions, following along with the grain of the wood. Always wear gloves when you do this! Once the finish dries for a few hours, you can walk on the floor again.
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