Caring for hardwood floors is relatively easy. To keep them looking their best, you should clean up spills as they occur and sweep or vacuum frequently. For a deeper cleaning, you can use a steam mop, but avoid soaking in water, as it can cause the lower layers to deform. You can use a commercial wood cleaning product, such as Bona soap or Murphy Oil Soap, or make your own cleaner by mixing one part vinegar with 10 parts warm water and adding a few drops of Castilla liquid soap.
Avoid harsh cleaners such as pine oil or any other cleaner that promises to leave a shine. The buildup of wax will leave the floor looking dull. The best hardwood floor cleaner is soap and water, and the only tools you need are a broom, a vacuum, and a mop. The best mop for hardwood floors is a flat-headed microfiber mop or thread that you can easily wring out. You can control the amount of moisture in the mop, and microfibers pick up dirt better than some traditional mops.
Dish detergent can be used as a homemade cleaner for hardwood floors to remove oil, dirt and dust from floors. Use the same mix of water and white vinegar, but add a few drops of dish detergent for more powerful cleaning. In most homes, you should clean the floor more thoroughly weekly or monthly, depending on how much the floors are used. Lavender, rose, cedarwood and lemon are great essential oils for cleaning hardwood floors and filling your home with an enchanting scent. If you've been cleaning dirt promptly and keeping your floors free of sand and dust, you'll only need to wet the mop with a cleaning product a few times a year. To capture the dust bunnies that seem to appear out of nowhere, clean hardwood floors at least once a week.
Never allow water or any other liquid, including the homemade hardwood floor cleaners we've listed, to stay on the surface of your hardwood floor for a long time. Keep in mind that this is an excellent technique for hardwood floors, but that you shouldn't use it for certain wood finishes, such as laminate. For best results, use liquid wax or paste wax designed specifically for hardwood floors (acrylic or water-based waxes can discolor carpentry). Since most hardwood floors are sealed with cured polyurethane or polyacrylic urethane, it's essential to choose a wood floor cleaner that leaves the sealant shiny and free of scratches. Because hardwood floors are made of natural materials, knowing what not to use on hardwood floors is just as important as knowing what to clean hardwood floors with.
The ingredients in commercial hardwood floor cleaners can vary, but it's essential to avoid cleaners that don't have a neutral pH or aren't specifically designed for your floor.
