Hardwood floors are a stylish addition to any home and are one of the most durable flooring options. However, to keep them looking their best you’ll need to clean them regularly.
Read on to find out how to get your hardwood floor looking brand-new again, plus how to protect it from damage.
Duration: 30 minutes to one hour
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: Approximately £5 – £10
Sweep or hoover
The first step is sweeping or hoovering your wood floor to remove dirt and dust. It’s up to you whether you use a broom or a hoover, but if you use a hoover make sure it has a soft brush head so that it doesn’t scratch the floor. Avoid hoovers with a hard head, or a rotating brush that could damage the wood.
Mop
Next it’s time to mop the floor. However, less is more when it comes to water, since wood naturally expands when it gets wet and this can cause it to splinter or crack.
Use a minimal amount of water and never allow it to puddle on the floor. We also recommend using warm water (not too hot, though!), since it will evaporate quicker than cold water.
You can mop the floor with just water, or add a cleaning product that is suitable for hardwood floors.
Leave the floor to air dry (opening doors or windows if possible), or use another clean, dry mop to speed up the process.
Conceal scratches
Although hardwood floors are extremely durable, it’s inevitable that a few scratches and imperfections will appear over its lifetime. Luckily there are a few different ways to conceal scratches on the floor.
If the scratch is fresh and quite shallow, you can use a paste made from olive oil and bicarbonate of soda to fix it. The bicarb is lightly abrasive and will buff out the scratch, while the oil will form a protective seal over it.
You could also use sandpaper to get rid of the scratch, but make sure you are always buffing in the direction of the grain. You’ll need to reapply a wood stain after sanding so that it matches the rest of the floor again. We recommend testing the wood stain in a hidden area first – under a bed or sofa, for example – to check that you’ve got the right colour.
Polish wood
Polishing wood floors not only makes them look clean and shiny, but also helps to protect them from scratches and scuffs. First choose a polish that is suitable for your floor. If it has a polyurethane finish, use a water-based polish. For other finishes, use a wax-based polish.
Move any furniture out of the way, then spread the polish evenly on the surface using a microfibre cloth. Wipe against the grain of the wood first, and then towards it. This ensures that you completely cover the floor.
Once you’ve finished, leave the polish to dry for at least 30 minutes. Although you can walk on it after the time is up, we recommend leaving it overnight before moving the furniture back.
Protect floors from further damage
There are a few things you can do to minimise the risk of damage to your wood floors. Here are a few of our must-dos:
- Take off your shoes. Although it may sound simple, this is one of the best ways to protect your floor from dirt and scratches.
- Clean up spills immediately. Don’t let spills puddle on the floor – instead, blot them up with an absorbent cloth to prevent liquid seeping into the wood.
- Use furniture pads: Place furniture pads underneath sofas, drawers or any other heavy furniture to prevent indentations in the floor.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is it okay to mop wood floors with water?
Yes, it is fine to use water to mop hardwood floors. However, you should only use a minimal amount of water so that it doesn’t seep into the wood.
What should you not clean wood floors with?
Don’t use ammonia, alkaline products or abrasive cleaning products on hardwood floors. They’ll dull the finish and could cause damage.
Hopefully you’re now feeling inspired to get your hardwood floor looking sparkling clean. Need some help with cleaning around the house? Find a Tasker near you today and get the job done.
