5 Easy Steps to Clean Wood Floors

To clean wood floors, you have to set aside first any furniture and rugs, sweep away the dirt by using a broom or vacuum cleaner, mop the floor, remove hard stains, and finally polish and buff.

Wood floors are a favorite to most homeowner because they are naturally beautiful and it adds a decorating element to the home. Unlike other kinds of flooring like carpets, they are affordable, very easy to clean, and require only low maintenance. It is a must that you should know how to clean and take care of your floor to ensure that it retains its natural sheen for many years. In order to do that, here are instructions on how to clean your wood floors:

Step 1:  Set aside any furniture and rugs

Clearing the floor from any furniture and other things will make cleaning easier and faster. It will also allow you to clean the floor under tables, sofas, or cabinets. Also in this way, you won’t have to be moving any furniture anymore when you start sweeping, mopping, and so on. Be careful when moving things around the house and never drag them. This is to prevent scratching on the floor.

Step 2: Sweep away the dirt by using a broom or vacuum cleaner

To do this, you need a good quality fine-bristled broom to sweep the wood floor. This will take off dust, dirt, sand, and other particles. If you are not sure if all the dust and grime is removed, you can use a vacuum cleaner as long as the brushing attachment you use on it is soft to avoid scratching.

Step 3: Mop the floor

Hard to remove dust particles can be removed by using a dry mop. A damp mop can only be used in cleaning only in when needed and not too often. It is because water can cause warping resulting to irreparable damage to your floor. Remember to wring your mop properly and avoid water spills. If you think the floor is wet after you mop it, wipe it immediately with a dry cloth or mop to remove extra water.

Step 4: Remove hard stains

Cleaning agents can be used only in removing hard-to-remove stains. Some manufacturers will give suggestions or recommend a cleaning product that you should use for cleaning your floor. But you can also use natural and homemade cleaning product like a mixture of white vinegar and water. You can also add isopropyl alcohol to it.  Apply it with a damp cloth or mop. Always remember that ammonia and oil soaps are strictly forbidden for cleaning because they can cause adverse effect to the wood and they can cause dullness to the floor.

Step 5: Polish and buff

Apply wax only to floors with a waxy finish to improve its color, as long as it is not done so often. For those that don’t need any wax applications, polish them with some lemon juice and olive oil. To lift any residue and to make the floor shine, just buff it with a clean dry cloth in circular motion.