-FLOOR CLEANING 101-

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Floors take on a lot, including daily traffic and inevitable spills, scuffs, or mishaps

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The best way to clean hardwood floors starts with smart preventive measures, which not only help protect floors but also cut down on the time you spend cleaning

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To lessen tracked-in dirt, place floor mats both outside and inside exterior doors

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In snowy or rainy weather, set up a boot removal area to avoid damaging floors with tracked in water and de-icing agents

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Along with a spot to sit down and a place to store shoes, keep a rag or cleaning cloth tucked away next to the door to quickly clean up errant puddles on wood floors

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Even when the forecast doesn’t call for precipitation, it’s smart to remove shoes when coming indoors so dirt, grime, and germs don’t get tracked all over the house

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Especially with hardwood floors, scratch-causing heels and cleats should be checked at the door

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Prevent marks on hardwood floors by using floor protectors under furniture and adding rugs in play areas to ensure children’s toys don’t scratch the floor

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In addition to these daily best practices, follow our tips for cleaning wood floors to keep your home in top shape

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Kitchen with green cabinets and white island seating

Credit: Anthony Masterson Photography, Inc

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How to Clean Wood Floors During Your Regular Cleaning Routine

A regular once-over with a broom or dust mop will do wonders for cleaning hardwood floors

How often you have to do this chore depends on the traffic your hardwood floors see.

For a quick clean, dust wood floors with a mop that has been treated with a dusting agent to pick up dust, dirt, and pet hair that might scratch the floor surface.

Options for the best mop for hardwood floors include those with a microfiber head.

This material is designed to trap dust and grime.

Follow the mop manufacturer’s recommendations for using wood floor polish or dusting sprays; some mops won’t require an extra cleaning agent.

When considering how to clean hardwood floors, don’t overlook vacuuming.

For weekly or biweekly cleaning, vacuum with a floor-brush attachment.

Do not use a vacuum with a beater bar attachment, which can scratch a wood floor’s finish.

For quick dusting, use disposable electrostatic cloths

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Mopping with a string mop and bucket of soap and water

Credit: Kritsada Panichgul

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How to Mop Wood Floors (The Right Way)

The best way to clean hardwood floors starts with preventive measures and routine cleaning, but sometimes a deeper clean is in order

Dirt, oil, and grime build up over time and aren’t completely removed by a weekly dusting

For how to deep clean hardwood floors (consider doing this cleaning in the spring or just before the winter holidays), use a wood floor mop and wood floor cleaning product diluted according to the label instructions

Saturate a sponge or rag mop in the water, then wring it almost dry so it feels only slightly damp to the touch

Damp-mop the floor, being careful to prevent standing water on the floor

Rinse with a clean mop dampened in clean water, but only if the cleaning product requires it

Wipe up excess liquid because standing water can damage wood surfaces

If the weather is humid, operate a ceiling fan or the air-conditioner to speed up drying

If cleaning isn’t cutting it, you may need to refinish the wood floors to help them look like new

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Natural cleaning materials

Find the Best Wood Floor Cleaner

If you’re unsure about the best hardwood floor cleaner for your home, talk to your flooring manufacturer

They can often recommend a specific cleaner to use for their product

But if your floor isn’t new, or you can’t consult the manufacturer, pick a product that is specifically made for cleaning wood floors

Don’t use vinyl or tile floor cleaners as these products will damage, rather than clean, wood floors.

If you’re concerned about using harsh chemicals, look for hardwood floor cleaners that are Greenguard Gold certified, which means they’re safe to use in homes with kids and pets.

Otherwise, try the natural route with a homemade cleaning solution for your floors.

Person mopping floor with string mop Person mopping floor with string mop

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How to Clean Wood Floors Naturally

For a natural wood floor cleaner, use a common kitchen staple: vinegar

Learning how to clean hardwood floors with vinegar will save you money on top of providing a safe cleaning method for your floors

Clean wood floors with vinegar by adding 1/2 cup white vinegar to a gallon of lukewarm water

Follow the tips for how to clean hardwood floors with a mop, above, to prevent water damage

Then use vinegar to naturally clean the rest of your home!

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Editor’s Note:

Vinegar can dull certain hardwood flooring finishes, so always test your solution in an inconspicuous spot before using the ingredient to clean your floors

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mudroom hardwood floors mudroom hardwood floors

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How to Remove Stains on Hardwood Floors

Consider your flooring’s finish before trying to remove a stain from wood floors

If the stain is on the surface, your floor probably has a hard finish, such as urethane

If the finish stain has penetrated through to the wood, the floor probably has a soft oiled finish, common in older homes whose floors have not been refinished and resealed

For floors with a hard finish, wipe surface stains with a soft, clean cloth

Never use sandpaper, steel wool, or harsh chemicals because they can permanently damage the finish

The following remedies are for hardwood floors with soft oiled finishes

If needed, end each treatment by staining the wood, then waxing and buffing the spot to match the rest of the floor

Remove dark spots and pet stains

Rub the spot with No. 000 steel wool and floor wax

If the area is still dark, apply bleach or vinegar and allow it to soak into the wood for about an hour

Rinse with a damp cloth

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Remove heel marks

Use fine steel wool to rub in floor wax

Remove oil-based stains

Rub the area with a soft cloth and dish detergent to break down the grease

Rinse with clear water

If one application doesn’t work, repeat the procedure

Keep children and pets out of the room until you’re done

Let the spot dry, then smooth the raised grain with fine sandpaper

Remove watermarks or white stains

Rub the spot with No. 000 steel wool and floor wax

If the stain goes deeper, lightly sand the floor and clean with fine steel wool and odorless mineral spirits

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www.bhg.com /homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-hardwood-floors/

Must-Know Tricks for Cleaning Hardwood Floors the Right Way

By Jessica Bennett Updated April 08, 20207-8 minutes

Learn how to clean wood floors with smart methods that will make caring for your flooring and maintaining a clean, polished look even easier

Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team

If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission

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*🌈✨ *TABLE OF CONTENTS* ✨🌷*

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