Cleaning Tips for Hardwood Floors
You’ve been searching for tips to not only clean your hardwood floors but maintain their shine also? The secret is in regular cleaning. This is because wood floors tend to take the largest brunt of a home’s wear and tear. Hardwood floors have to withstand all the dirt, grime, debris and dust that you bring into the house. It gets even tougher for your floors when you add the mess and dirt of pets and children to the mix.
When your hardwood floors are dirty, they could become damaged, causing expensive repairs, refinishing or replacement. Experts all over, stress the importance of regular floor cleaning to ensure that it does not become unmanageable or a humungous task. Most agree that cleaning should be done a few times during the week to ensure the floor does not get filthy.
You might wonder if there is a preferred method to clean your hardwood floors. The truth is, it depends on not just your requirements, but also your lifestyle. Numerous types of wood flooring like laminate, composite or solid wood have varying needs when it comes to how they are maintained. This not only applies to these surfaces but also the products that are used to ensure they keep their original integrity and shine.
The first thing you should do is to invest in the correct cleaning tools
One of the best ways to clean your hardwood floors is to make use of a microfibre mop, which can remove dirt, dust and any other particles that have found their way into your home. Using a microfibre mop ensures that while you clean, your hardwood floors do not get scratched like certain vacuum cleaners might.
Ensure that you purchase a microfibre mop for hardwood floors. If possible, also ensure that you have numerous refills for the microfibre mop as it is best to clean the floor with a clean dust mop.
If you are interested in cleaning your hardwood floors daily, particularly when you don’t have enough time, you could opt for a robot vacuum, precisely one that is capable of both mopping and vacuuming.
Cleaning your hardwood floors naturally
One of the very best cleaners to use on hardwood floors is vinegar. Not only is it safe for the hardwood floor, but it is also inexpensive and natural. When you want to use vinegar to clean your floor, ensure that you make use of apple cider vinegar, mixing about a quarter of a cup to a gallon of lukewarm water.
If you are unable to get apple cider vinegar, you can make use of white vinegar. But instead that a quarter cup, you should use half a cup to a gallon of water. It can be used to clean any floor type. If the smell of vinegar is not something that appeals to you, you can put a drop of your favourite essential oils to help disguise the smell.
You can be sure that when you make use of this natural method to clean your hardwood floor, you are sure that you are not harming yourself, your pets or any children that could come into contact with the floor. Another benefit of using vinegar to clean your hardwood floors is that it does not leave a residue, neither do you need to rinse it like you would for cleaning solutions that contain chemicals.
When you do make use of vinegar to clean your floor, it is essential to remember that you must first remove dust particles from the hardwood floor. Ensure that when you clean using the apple cider vinegar solution, you do not let the wood get too wet, as that could erode the finish. It could also cause deterioration or warping.
Cleaning your hardwood floors without using water
You might not want to clean your floors with water considering they are made of wood, well there is a way to ensure that your floors remain clean without needing water. All you need to do is head to the store and purchase any of the numerous no-water cleaning solutions. You don’t have to rinse the floor, neither do you have to worry about the solution leaving a residue. One thing you have to watch out for when purchasing a no-water cleaning solution is to ensure that it has been designed for your type of hardwood, else you could end up damaging the floor.
Tips to ensure that your hardwood floor remains clean
It is quite easy for your hardwood floors to switch from clean and shiny to being completely covered in filth in a flash. All they need is a pair of dirty boots, a spill, or an unruly pet coming in from outside can undo all the excellent work you have done in an instance.
That being said, there is also dirt that happens due to walking with your shoes inside your house. The best way to help ensure that you don’t have a lot to clean is to implement a shoe-free area. If you don’t want to do that, you can also purchase a doormat, to encourage everyone in your household to wipe their feet.
