What is the best thing to clean hardwood floors
How to Clean Wood Floors Properly
By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 02/02/23
Reviewed by
Brandon Pleshek
Reviewed by Brandon Pleshek
Brandon Pleshek of Clean That Up! is a seasoned veteran of the cleaning industry with over 20 years of experience in commercial and residential cleaning. He is a member of The Spruce's Cleaning and Organizing Review Board
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
In This Article
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How Often to Clean Hardwood Floors
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Before You Begin
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How to Clean Solid or Engineered Hardwood Floors
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Wood-Look Flooring
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Tips to Keep Floors Clean Longer
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Homemade Wood Floor Cleaning Solution
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Prevent Scratches
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Removing Stains From Wood Flooring
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When to Call a Professional
Project Overview
Wood floors add warmth and a unique look to all home decor styles, and most are easy to care for if appropriately cleaned to maintain the shine. But, frequent foot traffic tracks in dirt and grime, which builds up on hardwood floors, making them look dingy, and if you have pets, then dust bunnies are probably multiplying daily.
Aesthetics aside, you need to keep floors clean because it's safer and healthier for you. A thin sheet of dirt or dust can make wood floors slippery and a fall hazard. Dust and dust mites accumulate, triggering asthma and respiratory conditions.
Watch Now: The Simple Method to Make Hardwood Floors Shine
How Often to Clean Hardwood Floors
To keep the finish bright and clean, wood floors should be swept, vacuumed, or dust mopped daily, and you should clean up spills as soon as they happen. You should do a more thorough floor cleaning weekly or monthly, depending on how much use the floors get.
How to Clean Hardwood Floors and Make Them Shine
Before You Begin
The main thing to determine before you start cleaning is your type of flooring: solid hardwood flooring, engineered hardwood flooring, or laminate wood-look flooring. They look very similar but care for laminate differs from solid or engineered hardwood. Solid and engineered hardwood flooring can receive the same cleaning regimen but never use hardwood floor cleaners on laminate since the oil and waxes in the ingredients can dull the surface.
Types of Wood and Wood-like Flooring
- Solid hardwood flooring: This flooring is installed in planks or strips and left natural or treated with a wood stain. The flooring can be any hardwood (oak, maple, teak, walnut, ash) cut from one solid piece of wood.
- Engineered hardwood flooring: This flooring is manufactured by gluing together several thin plies of hardwood. The layers are stacked with the grains running in different directions to strengthen the floor pieces. The surface layer can be a thin veneer or a thicker layer of hardwood that can be sanded and refinished over time.
- Laminate wood-look flooring: This flooring contains no hardwood. The surface is a photographic image of wood covered by a thick layer of melamine resin over fiberboard.
Tools for Cleaning Hardwood Floors
The tools you use to clean can vary. A soft-bristled broom is the best choice for removing crumbs and grit from hardwood floors while preventing additional scratches. The bristles can be made from nylon or rubber. Both types of bristles are static-charged and help to grab particles. Use a dustpan or hand vacuum to grab the accumulated soil.
Microfiber mop heads attract dust better than cotton or sponge mops and can be easily washed and cleaned. While you can use a vacuum on hardwood floors, choose one that has soft-bristle rollers and a retractable beater bar to prevent scratching. Use the upholstery brush attachment to reach dusty corners of the room.
The 13 Best Mops of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Hardwood Floor Cleaning Solution
Since most wood floors are sealed with cured polyurethane or polyacrylic urethane, choosing a wood floor cleaner that will leave the sealant bright and without streaks is essential. Never use harsh chemicals like chlorine bleach, ammonia, pine oil, or undiluted vinegar. Choose instead a commercial product that is formulated for sealed wood floors. Never apply liquid or paste wax over a polyurethane-sealed wood floor.
The 8 Best Hardwood Floor Cleaners of 2023
Equipment / Tools
- Broom, dust mop, or vacuum
- Microfiber mop
Materials
- Commercial wood floor cleaner
- Paper towels
- Water
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
How to Clean Solid or Engineered Hardwood Floors
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Sweep or Vacuum Daily
Sweep or vacuum daily to remove grit and crumbs that can cause scratches and wear down the floor's finish. Don't forget to clean under area rugs regularly. Remove scuff marks as soon as you notice them.
Tip
It's best to have two microfiber mops, one for dry mopping to capture dust and another with denser fibers for damp mopping. A clean mop equals a cleaner floor.
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
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Tackle Messes as They Happen
Don't allow any dry mess or wet spills that can leave water rings to remain for more than a few minutes on hardwood floors. This is especially important for mud or any foods or liquids that are dark in color and can leave difficult-to-remove stains.After cleaning the spill with a paper towel or cloth, give the floor a final "rinse" with a slightly water-dampened cloth or mop. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain to prevent streaking.
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
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Dust Mop Weekly
To capture the dust bunnies that seem to appear from nowhere, dust mop wood floors at least once per week.
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
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Damp Mop Seasonally
If you have been taking care of messes promptly and keeping floors free of grit and dust, you should only need to damp mop with a cleaning product a few times each year. Never use a sopping-wet mop. Excessive water can damage every sealant on wood floors and cause them to buckle.
Lightly dampen a microfiber mop and always clean following the grain of the wood and allow the wood to dry completely before walking to prevent spotting. If you live in an area with hard water, damp mop with distilled water. The excessive minerals in hard water can leave the floor finishes looking dull.
If you use a commercial wood floor cleaner, choose one with a spray applicator or a mop that includes a refillable spray feature like Bona. Too much product can leave floors sticky and attract more dirt. Just a heavy mist of about one-half teaspoon per two square feet is adequate for cleaning.
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
How to Clean Laminate Wood-Look Flooring
Caring for wood-look laminate flooring is relatively easy. Wipe up spills as they happen and sweep or vacuum frequently. For deeper cleaning, you can use a steam mop but avoid wet mopping that can cause the underlayers to warp. Avoid harsh cleaners like pine oil or any cleaner that promises to leave a shine. The waxy build-up will leave the laminate looking dull. Opt for a small amount of plain dishwashing liquid in warm water to dampen your mop.
Tips to Keep Floors Clean Longer
Make sure you have a doormat outside your main entrance door and, if possible, inside your door too. The door mat may get dirty fast, but it's better there than all over your house.
Tip
To keep your floors looking shiny and clean longer, adopt a shoes-off policy at the door. Shoes track in a lot of dirt. To encourage guests to feel comfortable with the policy, offer guest slippers at the door.
Spills and messes can worsen if you don't clean them up right away. If you've lived with children or pets, you know what happens when Cheerios get flung from a high chair or dog kibble is left on the floor; it becomes a crumbly, powdery mess once a foot steps on it. Juice splatters become a sticky nightmare after a few hours. If you leave these cleaning tasks until the next time you wash the floors, your floors will look dirtier and will take longer to clean when you get around to them.
Homemade Wood Floor Cleaning Solution
One of the most inexpensive and effective cleaners for hardwood floors is diluted vinegar. A good ratio is 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water. To leave a pleasant scent behind as you clean, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the cleaning solution. The vinegar smell will dissipate as it airs out.
Tips to Prevent Scratches on Wood Floors
Scratches cause floors to look dull and wear out more quickly. Taking a few precautions will help keep away scratches.
- Place felt pads on the bottom of the chair and table legs.
- Never place houseplant pots directly on hardwood floors.
- Never drag heavy furniture or objects across the floor.
- Skip stilettos and cleats when walking on hardwood floors.
- Place doormats inside and outside entrance areas and clean them frequently. Reducing the amount of grit brought into a home will reduce the number of scratches.
- Keep pet toenails trimmed and filed.
Removing Stains From Wood Flooring
To remove a pesky stain like wine from hardwood flooring, you can try a commercial hardwood spot cleaner or go into your medicine cabinet and grab the hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide has bleaching properties, and it's safe for hardwood flooring. Soak a clean cloth in hydrogen peroxide and cover the stain for six to eight hours. After the time has elapsed, the stain should be gone.
When to Call a Professional
If your floors have lost their luster or you don't have the time or inclination to clean your floors, regularly schedule a periodic maintenance visit from a local wood flooring professional cleaning service. Prices average about $250 to $400 depending on the amount of wood flooring you have. Professional cleaning can extend the life of your flooring and hold off the need for refinishing for years,
However, if you have excessive dents, scratches, or water damage, you might need your wood floors refinished. If the wood starts rotting, splitting or splintering, or turning black, it's a sign you need a professional to fix your flooring or potentially replace it.
How to Repair Scratched Hardwood Floors
Article Sources
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Dust and dust mites. American Lung Association.
The 8 Best Hardwood Floor Cleaners of 2023
The Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner is our top pick
By
Brigitt Earley
Brigitt Earley
Brigitt Earley is an experienced writer and product reviewer for The Spruce who specializes in home hacks and products. She currently writes about home products and toys for The Spruce.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 12/08/22
Reviewed by
Katie Berry
Reviewed by Katie Berry
Katie Berry is a cleaning expert with 30 years of household management experience and 12 years of writing about cleaning methods and routines for Housewife How-Tos. She is the author of several books about homemaking.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Fact checked by
Richard Scherr
Fact checked by Richard Scherr
Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. The Baltimore native also covered the technology scene for LocalBusiness.com and has been a regular contributor to the sports pages of The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.
The Spruce / Sharon Lehman
Properly maintaining your hardwood floors helps them look great and last longer, and it can also buy you time between routine maintenance projects like refinishing. Brett Miller, vice president of technical standards, training, and certification for the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), says that successful maintenance is easily attainable. Sweep or use a dry, soft microfiber dust mop on a daily basis, vacuum (on the bare floor setting, if possible) once a week, and use a professional-quality floor cleaner monthly. “But be sure to use the right cleaning solution, and avoid over-wetting or leaving behind a residue on the floor,” Miller adds.
We researched and tested dozens of hardwood floor cleaners in The Lab, judging them on ease of use, effectiveness, and ingredients.
Here are the best hardwood floor cleaners.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Better Life Floor Cleaner at Amazon
Best Budget:
Murphy Oil Soap at Amazon
Best Eco-Friendly:
Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner at Amazon
Best Smelling:
Method Wood Floor Cleaner at Amazon
Best Heavy-Duty:
ZEP Commercial Hardwood & Laminate at 123office.com
Best Mop:
Shark VacMop Pro Vacuum Mop at Amazon
Best Vacuum:
Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum at Amazon
Best Robot:
Ecovacs Deebot T10 Plus Robotic Vacuum and Mop at Amazon
In This Article
-
Our Picks
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What to Look For
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FAQ
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Why Trust The Spruce
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Spruce Approved
Walmart
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Better Life's Floor Cleaner Packs a Plant-Derived Punch
What We Like
What We Don't Like
The formula is plant-based and doesn't require any dilution. Simply squirt and mop for clean floors without all of the elbow grease that other products require. Thanks to its essential oils, it doesn’t leave a strong scent behind. Instead, you’ll be left with a soft, clean citrus scent that our tester said reminded her of a day at the spa. She was also impressed with how quickly the cleaner dried and left a finish ready to be walked on: “Within minutes of cleaning one portion of the floor, the surface was dry as we began cleaning another. It left a smooth finish without any tackiness, too, which was a pleasant surprise."
Price at time of publishing: $15
Type: Liquid | Dimensions: 8.75 x 3.45 x 3.45 inches | Weight: 4 pounds | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Scent: Citrus mint
The Spruce / Elizabeth Rago
Amazon
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What We Like
What We Don't Like
When a cleaner has been on the market for over 100 years, you know it’s a good one. Tack on a budget-friendly price, and it’s sure to become one of your go-to products. Murphy Oil Soap is beloved for its price point and its cleaning prowess. The solution is suitable for everyday cleaning, but it can also tackle built-up grime for a deeper clean.
You do have to dilute the concentrate, but it’s simple: Just mix it with water, and follow the package instructions. Then, mop the floor with the solution—no need to rinse it. You’ll leave behind squeaky clean hardwood floors with an impressive look. As a bonus, the recognizable citronella—while too pungent for some—lends a fresh scent that lingers, making your house smell just as clean as it looks. For maximum mileage, you can also use the classic cleaner to refresh tile, linoleum, vinyl, and other flooring materials.
Price at time of publishing: $12
Type: Liquid | Dimensions: 10.69 x 7.13 x 5.13 inches | Weight: 7.1 pounds | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Scent: Citronella
Walmart
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Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Review
What We Like
EPA Safer Choice product
Doesn’t leave behind any residue
Works on glazed or unglazed floors
What We Don't Like
Keep sealed hardwood floors in tip-top shape with this pH-balanced cleaner from Bona. Since the formula is water-based, it’s also safe for other types of flooring like porcelain and laminate. But don’t be fooled: It’s just as powerful as concentrates. In fact, with this product in hand, you should only need to do a weekly (or even bi-weekly) clean to keep your floors spotless.
Spritz and wipe, then watch as the fast-drying formula effortlessly eliminates dirt, dust, and stuck-on grime. Despite the shine, the product won’t leave floors slippery, and it doesn’t leave behind any residue that can leave floors tacky or looking cloudy and dull. The cleaner is also an EPA Safer Choice product, meaning that it meets certain requirements for being people- and planet-friendly.
Our product tester said that Bona not only cleaned her floors but also improved them: “We were also happy to notice some minor scuffs and surface scratches in our aged hardwoods were less noticeable after cleaning with Bona."
Price at time of publishing: $9
Type: Liquid spray | Dimensions: 50 x 115 x 30 inches | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Scent: Unscented
The Spruce / Sharon Lehman
Walmart
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What We Like
What We Don't Like
Method Squirt + Mop Wood Floor Cleaner stands out for its formula. It’s entirely plant-based and biodegradable, and it's wax-free, so it won’t coat floors in a substance that might make it look cleaner in the short run but actually dull and even damage floors over time. Instead, it cleans with a blend of water, coconut oil, organic solvents, and baking soda. There’s no dilution required, saving precious time. Just squirt it onto your hardwood floors, and mop away to reveal clean, deodorized, shiny planks. There’s no rinsing required. One thing to keep in mind: While it's convenient, the squirt functionality can release unpredictable amounts of cleaner, so you’ll want to go slowly until you get the hang of it.
Once it's dry, you’re not just left with cleaner floors. The sweet almond scent is another huge draw to this cruelty-free cleaner. It’s pleasant enough to notice, but soft enough not to overpower, and it’s a welcome departure from the typical citrus scent you typically find in floor cleaners.
Price at time of publishing: $15
Type: Liquid | Dimensions: 10. 25 x 4.36 x 4.36 inches | Weight: 3.04 pounds | Amount: 68 fluid ounces | Scent: Unscented
The 9 Best Brooms of 2023
Walmart
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What We Like
What We Don't Like
When your whole house has wall-to-wall wood hardwood flooring, you’ll need to stock plenty of cleaner to keep those surfaces clean. A commercial solution, like this one from Zep, is an excellent option. The heavy-duty formula is made for high-traffic industrial spaces, but it works exceptionally well in homes, too. (You'll want to use caution if considering the product for a home with kids and pets, since it’s not quite as gentle as other options.)
If it’s right for you, the professional-grade cleaner will tackle everything from spots and scuffs to set-in stains in a flash. You can use it on hardwood or laminate flooring. Just spray it on (a little goes a long way, so be conservative), mop, and stand back to admire your clean floors in all of their glory. The light citrus scent is a nice touch, too.
Price at time of publishing: $17
Type: Liquid | Dimensions: 12.1 x 6 x 6 inches | Weight: 8.6 pounds | Amount: 128 fluid ounces | Scent: Citrus
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What We Like
What We Don't Like
Experts recommend both vacuuming (to get the crumbs up) and mopping (to really get that deep clean), but you don’t have to stock two tools to get the job done. The Shark VACMOP is a vacuum and spray mop combo that uses powerful suction to pull dirt and debris into its disposable pad. Once it vacuums all the loose debris in its path, you can use the spray cleaning solution from the on-board container to mop on the shine. Our testers say it's just as easy as it sounds. The tool is lightweight and maneuvers well in tight areas (like under a bar cart). It even has a light on the head so you can see those typically dark, hard-to-reach spots, which is great for making sure you get the whole mess up!
A cordless construction allows you to venture wherever you need to, even in a large room. No need to worry about the battery life, either. After an overnight charge, our tester found it strong enough to complete several small tasks or one big deep clean of a townhouse. Do note, though, that you’ll need to purchase refill pads to continue using the VACMOP.
Price at time of publishing: $100
Type: Mop and vacuum combo | Dimensions: 47.87 x 9.5 x 5.3 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Capacity: 0.1 quarts | Power source: Cordless electric
Amazon
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What We Like
What We Don't Like
Top-heavy design
Smaller dust bin
The Shark IZ462H Vertex DuoClean received a near-perfect score across our testing categories for its performance on hardwood flooring, carpet, and more. This vacuum's motor head is equipped with a long-bristled front brush that easily sweeps up debris in its 10.5-inch cleaning path. A second rubber roller also ensures any remaining debris is picked up behind the bristles. Our tester said this vacuum required minimal effort to push and pull across flooring because it automatically leads you across the surface.
This vacuum also has an impressive hour-long battery life, which can clean your whole home—or the majority of it—before needing to refresh the battery. An LED light on the floor head allows you to see your cleaning path and illuminates any hidden debris. This vacuum also folds in half for easy storage, if you're cramped for closet space, or looking to optimize storage possibilities. Our testers pointed out this vacuum is slightly top-heavy, which makes it tricky to prop up between tasks. However, its quiet, powerful suction makes it a winner in our testing lab, especially when considering its lightweight design.
Price at time of publish: $299
Type: Vacuum | Dimensions: 46. 5 x 9.6 x 10.25 inches | Weight: 9 pounds | Capacity: 1.4 quarts | Power source: Cordless electric
Best Buy
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What We Like
What We Don't Like
Mopping yields gorgeous hardwood floors, but all of that wringing and drying makes it a huge chore, and you don't want to over-wet your floors. Fortunately, the ECOVACS DEEBOT T10+ Robot Vacuum and Mop exists to make the task as breezy as can be. And though our tests show that most robot mops tend to make a bigger mess rather than effectively clean, this hybrid model was an exception. The DEEBOT T10+ cleaned up all of the spills we tested it on, leaving only a little bit of residue behind on its side brushes.
It’s a quality vacuum, too. The DEEBOT carefully maps its route and then shuffles along your floor while doing the hard work for you. During tests, it was very quiet when operating on hardwood—a great bonus if you have kids who nap or pets who spook easily. What’s more, it navigated around furniture very well, so you don’t have to worry about accidental dings and scratches.
The price is high, yes, but it’s easy to use, easy to empty, and overall very effective on both settings. You can even add scented pods. So, if you don’t have the time or the energy to carefully clean and maintain your hardwood floors, this is an excellent autonomous option.
Price at time of publishing: $650
Type: Vacuum and mop combo | Dimensions: 18.9 x 17 x 16.2 inches | Weight: 31.5 pounds | Capacity: Not listed | Power source: Cordless electric
The 7 Best Robot Vacuums of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Final Verdict
Our top pick for a hardwood floor cleaner is the Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner. Its versatile, plant-based formula works across a variety of sealed floor types. Plus, it's easy to use (there's no rinsing required), and it comes in recyclable packaging. If you're looking to spend less, Murphy Oil Soap is a great value. It’s a hardworking formula, and a little bit goes a long way.
Type
Before purchasing a cleaner, consider how each product is used. For hardwood floors, you can use a variety of products, including mops, vacuums, and liquids. Mops and vacuums help you get debris off of the floor, while liquid cleaners remove any fine specks of dust and restore shine. You’ll likely need more than one type of floor cleaner, such as a vacuum cleaner that works well on hardwood floors, as well as a quality mop and liquid cleaner.
Application Method
Some liquids require dilution. Some require rinsing. If convenience is particularly important to you, consider the cleaner’s application method prior to purchasing. Floor-cleaning concentrate (usually sold in a 1-gallon container) may be economical, but you'll need to use a bucket or a separate container to mix the formula with water. You’ll also need to buy a mop to apply the cleaner to the floor. There are many squirt-and-clean options available that don’t need to be rinsed or diluted, such as the Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner, which is our top pick. Some will also need a mop or additional supplies, like cleaning cloths, to wipe the solution from your floors.
If you opt for a vacuum or a robot mop, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT T10+ Robot Vacuum and Mop, you won’t need to buy additional supplies, but you’ll likely sacrifice cost for convenience.
Ingredients
Though ingredients impact a cleaner’s effectiveness, they also contribute to a product's safety and floor compatibility. For example, you should not use products with bleach on hardwood floors. Instead, Brett Miller, vice president of technical standards, training, and certification for the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), says it’s important to use a pH-balanced cleaner. What’s more, homes with young children or pets may prioritize EPA Safer Choice products like Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner. Some floor cleaners are also formulated with heavy fragrances to add a freshly cleaned scent. If you're sensitive to strong smells, consider an unscented floor cleaner or one made from natural fragrances, like essential oils.
FAQ
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To keep wood floors in tip-top shape, use a dry, soft microfiber (or similar) dust mop on wood floors on a daily basis, and supplement with a vacuum on the bare floor setting once a week, or as necessary, says Miller. You don’t need much product—you can get away with using a wood floor cleaner about once per month.
“Shine is not something you should try to achieve with any wood floor cleaning product, as products that claim to add shine may be damaging to the floor’s finish,” Miller explains. “If a homeowner thinks their floors have started to look a little dull, they can instead be renewed through a simple maintenance coat—something the NWFA recommends doing every three to five years.”
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Though it may seem counterintuitive, avoid products that promise to polish, restore luster, or add shine, says Miller. These solutions leave behind a temporary, non-protective, shiny film that can interfere with any future coats of professional wood floor finish. Keep in mind that wood and water don’t mix. You should never use straight water on wood floors. Applying high volumes of water in any form—liquid or vapor (like from a steam cleaner)—to a wood floor can cause permanent damage to the wood and the finish.
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Most steam cleaners state that they are safe for sealed hardwood flooring, but Miller cautions against using this type of floor-cleaning device. “Never use a steam mop on any real wood floor,” he says. “Steam is the vapor form of water, which means it can travel deeper and faster into and between the cracks and cells of the wood itself. This can permanently damage the wood and the floor’s finish.”
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Routine maintenance for wood flooring is fairly simple. According to Miller, you should sweep with a broom or microfiber mop daily to prevent debris from scratching the floors, use a vacuum (on the bare floor setting) once a week or as necessary, and clean monthly with a professional wood floor-cleaning product.
This roundup was written by Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer and editor with nearly 15 years of experience. She has written extensively about cleaning products, including floor cleaners, for various publications. Her home is almost exclusively hardwood, and she has personally tested a whole host of the cleaning products featured on this list. To curate, she leaned on her own experience, reviewed bestseller lists, read hundreds of product reviews, and spoke to Alicia Johnson, a cleaning expert and owner of Cleaning Green LLC. Additional insight was provided by Brett Miller, vice president of technical standards, training, and certification for the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA).
Emma Phelps, a writer for The Spruce, also contributed to this article by incorporating insights from testing in The Lab.
Here at The Spruce, we want to ensure that we fully stand behind every product we recommend and that when we say something is the best, we mean it. You might have noticed The Spruce Approved badge next to the products on this list. Every product with this badge has been rigorously tested in person and carefully selected by our expert team of lab testers and editors. In most cases, we buy all of these products ourselves, though occasionally we get samples provided to us directly by companies. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut. We also pride ourselves on transparency and will always let you know if we received a product for free.
How to wash the parquet floor, what detergents to use
Table of contents:
- How to clean hardwood floors with dry cleaning
- How and with what to wash parquet?
- What to do about stains
- Variety of detergents for parquet
- Preventive measures
A lot can be said about the beauty of parquet. From the newly laid wooden coating, the mood rises, I want to admire it. Later, the question will arise how to wash the parquet floor and how to take care of it in general. This noble coating shows its own care requirements. And the care is really non-standard, it differs from the care of the wooden floor, laminate and linoleum. Therefore, now let's talk about cleaning the parquet and caring for it.
See also: Which parquet board to choose for an apartment? There is a need to remove one or more stains on the parquet material, but which parquet cleaner to choose?
There are restrictions on the use of detergents. Acid-containing and alkaline compounds are prohibited, we strongly discourage abrasive cleaners. The parquet floor not only does not like moisture, it is afraid of it. Under no circumstances should the parquet floor be washed with a washing vacuum cleaner or steam cleaner, such rash actions will cause the coating to swell irrevocably.
Is it possible to wash parquet? What is generally allowed? How to wash parquet? Consider sequentially, step by step.
to contents ↑
How to dry clean parquet floors
This preparatory step for the main cleaning is recommended to be carried out using a conventional vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment.
This is understandable, for gentle cleaning, so as not to damage the lacquered surface of parquet or laminate flooring. The dust collector will perfectly cope with all small grains of sand.
Proceed further:
- if the floor is covered with carpet, remove it. If you need to use a vacuum cleaner for carpet, then do it with a different nozzle, not the one you use for parquet flooring; We remove
- furnishings that can be moved to another place.
We return them to their original place when the cleaning process is over.
Go to the second step.
to contents ↑
How and with what to wash parquet?
Wet cleaning of parquet is similar to that of laminate flooring: in both cases, it is done not with a wet cloth, but with a slightly damp, well-wrung out cloth beforehand. Action sequence:
- Soak a soft, absorbent cloth in warm water and wring it out well.
- Wipe the floor with a slightly damp cloth from the outermost wall to the door.
- If there are wet stains on the parquet, wipe them off immediately with a dry, clean cloth.
Parquet should be washed as rarely as possible, it is worth replacing washing with dry cleaning using a vacuum cleaner and further polishing using specialized compounds.
This completes the wet care phase. Further.
If you prefer household chemicals to natural cleaners, it is recommended to choose care products from the same manufacturer from which the parquet varnish was purchased. The parquet cleaner is used in strict accordance with the recommendations for its use, otherwise there is a risk of ruining the parquet. After that, the floor is wiped dry.
But keep in mind that when using a solution: 1 tablespoon of vinegar or ammonia, diluted in two liters of water, the result will be the same.
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What to do with spots
Spots appear unexpectedly, but they do appear. Therefore, you need to know such a side of parquet floor care as stain removal. Each type of stain should be washed in its own way.
For example, a cloth with a small amount of alcohol applied to it removes ink stains and marks from ballpoint pens. Using gasoline in small portions, you can remove the indelible remnants of the shoe trail, stains of the composition for shoes, traces of chocolates. And other types of stains:
- street dirt. Removed with slightly warm water with a non-aggressive detergent composition;
- greasy stains. We clean it with a soft cloth soaked in gasoline, but this must be done carefully and carefully to avoid damaging the varnish layer. Another method of removing a greasy stain is known: pour starch on it, cover it with a napkin and hold it on top several times with a heated iron;
- urine spots. These are surprises not only from small children, but also from small pets. Remove such stains immediately. It is important that urine is not absorbed into the wood, if there are small cracks in the varnish, then there will be a persistent unpleasant odor. In this place you need to put a soft rag soaked in alcohol to get rid of all these troubles;
- chewing gum stains. When exposed to cold, the gum loses its firmness, that is, you need to surround it with pieces of ice and carefully remove it with a soft spatula. This method is applicable for laminated and linoleum coatings.
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Types of detergents for parquet
Not so long ago, parquet floors were laid in living quarters, without applying varnish layers - they simply did not know about it. After washing, he was diligently rubbed with pieces of felt coated with mastic. So the smallest scratches were removed from the wood, and the floor acquired a shine.
This procedure had to be done frequently, it was long and laborious. As a result of the search, they found a way out - they began to varnish the parquet floor. Caring for parquet flooring has become easier, but moisture and scratches have remained its enemies.
Detergent compositions for parquet flooring can be divided into two types:
- cleaning agents - designed to remove dirt from the parquet floor and various stains;
- protective and decorative compositions - for the treatment of an already cleaned surface, they mask small defects, improve the quality and appearance of the parquet flooring.
These products are selected according to the final coat of the parquet floor: lacquered or oiled.
Lacquer manufacturers usually produce both cleaners and cleaners for lacquered parquet. Methods of application are described in the instructions for each product, the principle is general: a small amount of cleaning agent is mixed with water - in a bucket, a soft cloth must be wetted in this solution and the floor surface should be wiped with a special mop.
After cleaning the parquet, it is treated with special fresheners or restorers. A thin layer of such a composition will protect the parquet surface, give it dirt-repellent and water-repellent properties. Such processing should be performed approximately once every two months.
There are also specialized compositions of a narrow direction, for example: for a high degree of pollution: indelible marks from a bicycle, rubber soles, etc.
In addition to varnish, parquet floors are coated with oil, hard parquet wax. With such a coating, the floor looks the most natural, the texture of the wood and the natural pattern are visible. Impregnation well fills the pores on the surface, thereby protecting the wood from external factors. The oily-wax surface gets dirty more than the lacquered one. Modern cleaning compositions are easily removed from both ordinary pollution and local problems in the form of stains.
Watch the video: How to use care mixtures
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Preventive measures
In order to better preserve the parquet and shine with newness, you should follow the most common rules. Such as:
- if the parquet is laid in a room where visitors are frequent, for example, in a hall where furniture moves and moves, it is worth laying a carpet on an open surface. This will help protect the lacquer from early and rapid wear;
- mechanical damage to the varnish is possible from the normal movement of furniture in the room. It is advisable to glue felt linings on the furniture legs;
do not walk around the apartment in street shoes, because on the soles we bring dirt and sand from the street that can damage the parquet. Leave shoes for the street in the hallway, change into house slippers; - The occurrence of microcracks in the lacquer coating is possible due to very dry air, in particular in the heat of summer. To avoid this, you need to monitor the level of humidity inside the room: so that it does not have either too low or too high values.
Of course, parquet is a beautiful, prestigious flooring. Choosing this material will show your superior taste. But it is necessary to follow all the recommendations for its installation and further operation, to properly care for it.
We looked at how to clean parquet floors and what detergents to use. We wish this excellent coating to give you warmth and comfort for a very long time.
Washing parquet than washing a parquet board at home without streaks, methods of washing with water and a washing vacuum cleaner
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Parquet is one of the most popular types of wood flooring. With proper care, it is able to maintain its beautiful and attractive appearance for many years. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the issue of its cleaning, observing certain rules in the process of eliminating various contaminants. In this article we will talk about how to properly wash at home. We hope you find our recommendations helpful.
How was parquet cared for in the past?
Even 40 years ago, in many houses one could find one without a varnish coating. In those days, it was simply washed with a wet cloth, after which it was carefully rubbed with a special mastic. This procedure made it possible to hide all sorts of minor defects, such as scratches, and also gave the flooring a special shine.
The main disadvantage of this method was that it had to be repeated quite often. In addition, the process of rubbing with mastic was very exhausting and difficult. That is why nowadays wood is always covered with a special varnish, which simplifies its care and gives it a radiant sheen.
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How to wash properly?
Despite the fact that this kind of a is always varnished, it is very afraid of moisture. Therefore, during washing, certain rules must be observed. At the very beginning, it is necessary to remove coarse particles of dirt and sand from the surface, as they can scratch the varnish coating. For this purpose, you can use an ordinary vacuum cleaner, but in no case washing.
After that, you can proceed to the main stage of washing a. To do this, prepare a simple rag for a cotton or synthetic fabric. It must be thoroughly moistened in cool water, and then squeezed very carefully. Ideally, the rag should not be wet, but just damp. You can also wash it by hand, but it will be much more convenient to do this using a mop (as a rule, one time is enough to remove stains and streaks). Then it should be wiped with a dry cloth so that no moisture remains on its surface.
Can detergents be used?
In the process of washing, you can use some types of detergents, but only those that are intended for such purposes. Information about this can usually be found on the label of the package or you can check with the sales assistant. When using cleaning products at home, it is important to strictly adhere to the rules described in the instructions. Otherwise, you risk seriously damaging your flooring.
Please note that during washing, you can not use:
- washing powder;
- abrasives;
- hot water;
- preparations unsuitable for this purpose;
- washing vacuum cleaners and steam cleaners.
To prolong the service life, you should wash it as little as possible. In addition, special tools can be used. Usually they are used after washing the parquet, applying it to a completely dry varnish coating, thereby protecting it from stains and additional electrification.