We’re not just going to sit here and tell you how to clean hardwood floors. You’ve seen the yogurt spills, the mud tracks, the dog piddle, the spilled milk…
You KNOW the wear and tear. You’ve lived it, and you’ve certainly cleaned it, any type of way you could (unless you’ve lived with carpet your whole life, then that’s a different story).
But while you know how messy your floors can get and you have your own cleaning routine, we’re here to get into how to clean them so thoroughly they’ll sparkle and shine.
We’ll start with the daily clean because you might actually be damaging your floors and not know it. Then, we’ll get into natural cleaning methods, cleaning with vinegar, and deep cleaning (the kind of cleaning you do once a year).
Three steps to cleaning your hardwood floors regularly
You’re pretty familiar with sweeping your floors after dinner with your regular cleanup. Or maybe you sweep up after every meal (well, aren’t you a keeper).
Maybe you have a Roomba® robot vacuum that handles it all for you, so you really never have to think about sweeping or vacuuming at all (or all the pet hair that accumulates on your floors).
No matter your routine and regularity in cleaning your floors, you might have to give it that extra mop once a week (or a couple of times a week if you have kids, pets, or you’re just a sloppy cooker – we’ve all been there).
For a quick and regular (but extra) cleaning, you need only remember these three steps:
Step 1: Sweep or vacuum your floors first
Believe it or not, sweeping or vacuuming your floors regularly (daily is best) is one of the best things you can do to maintain your floors long-term, keep them from stains that are impossible to remove, and prolong deep cleans. Especially in those high-traffic areas.
Essentially, just sweep your floors as you normally would (a dust mop works too if that’s what you prefer), making sure to get into those corners and entryways, under the fridge as much as you can, and under area rugs.
If you have a vacuum cleaner designed for use on hardwood floors (and carpet), such as a Roomba® robot vacuum, then even better. If you let it roam through your home, it’ll be sucking up dirt, debris, and pet food regularly, reducing effort on your part (hey, isn’t that fun).
Step 2: Mop your hardwood floors
Most of us have our own methods of mopping, whether it be a big bucket with a traditional tassel mop that you have to wring out, using a spray mop with microfiber pads, or pouring warm water with dish soap on the floor (just remember not to leave it long; standing water will deeply damage floors) and soaking it up and scrubbing with a dry mop (we’ve seen a thing or two).
While there’s really no wrong way to mop, there are a few caveats.
One, you might want to alter your mopping method depending on your type of flooring. Most vinyl floors can handle a ton of wear and tear (including chair scraping and knife drops), but some might not handle a lot of water too well.
Hardwood floors that aren’t regularly sealed, have gaps between planks, or aren’t waterproof may warp or bubble if there’s excess water. For regular cleans, you’re generally fine with a quick spray microfiber mop.
Another thing to note is that most hardwood floors are sealed and you can wear that seal away over time and with cleaning tools like a scrubber or abrasive cleaning solutions.
Always pay attention to the cleaning recommendations of your hardwood flooring retailer or hard floor manufacturer (if you’re installing them).
If you have no idea how to clean your specific type of hardwood vinyl flooring, our guide on how to clean vinyl floors might be of help.
Step 3: Seal your hardwood floors
You’re probably not too familiar with sealing your hardwood flooring. Don’t worry, most people aren’t.
But since most of us aren’t told to do so (it’s not really a common cleaning task), we never do, which leads to duller looking floors, more scuffs, scratches, and bubbles.
Frankly, without sealing, your floors just don’t look as good and they won’t last as long.
How do you seal hardwood floors?
Chances are, your hardwood floors are actually vinyl wood floors, meaning they won’t necessarily need the kind of extensive maintenance and refinishing real wood floors would need.
If you do have real wood floors, the process of resealing can be as extensive as sanding them down, re-staining them, then adding polyurethane to seal them (though you can add an additional layer of sealant on top).
Now, all that really depends on the shape of the floors and how stained and scratched they are. With proper care, hardwood floors can last decades with a simple layer of sealant applied with a microfiber cloth mop.
You won’t have to sand your vinyl flooring, and it’s generally not possible to do so (the printed vinyl layer that makes it look like wood is rather thin).
But, adding a refinisher or floor sealant specifically made for vinyl flooring is recommended for long-term maintenance of your hard floor.
(If you are considering sealing your hardwood floors DIY, please consult your floor manufacturer’s recommendations and your local flooring professional to determine the best options for your specific floor type.)
Why do you need to seal vinyl hardwood floors?
Vinyl flooring may be low maintenance, but they still get gaps between the boards. Without sealing them, you’re going to get grime and debris (and various liquids) between the planks, building up, shifting the boards, and potentially ruining your entire floor.
So you absolutely should seal them (according to your manufacturer’s recommendations, of course).
How often should you seal your hardwood floors?
Simple answer: every 3-5 years.
The best way to know whether they need a seal is to pay attention to:
- The gaps between the planks
- The shine of your flooring
- Whether water beads or sinks into planks
- Your floor manufacturer’s specifications
How to deep clean hardwood floors
Part of the appeal of vinyl wood floors are the grooves and textures that give it a more natural look. And, of course, natural wood floors will have just as much appeal, if not more.
The problem with those grooves is that they trap dirt and grime in ways that a completely flat surface wouldn’t.
The buildup starts to discolor your flooring, often making it much darker than it really is and eliminating that appealing texture.
To help get rid of buildup on your hardwood flooring, use an agitator brush or brush attachment on a vacuum or wet mop (just make sure the bristles on the brush aren’t too hard. Excessive scrubbing over time will wear away the seal and finish).
In almost every case of deep cleaning for hardwood, you’ll have to agitate the dirt and buildup. It can’t come out of the groove without some kind of scrubbing motion with detergent or intense heat.
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