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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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