The easiest way to clean scuff marks is to erase them with an eraser (yup, a regular pencil eraser). If you forgo my advice to use a spray-and-wipe cleaning solution and instead use a mop and bucket method, I strongly urge you to ring the mop out as much as possible and make sure it’s barely damp when you wipe the floor. (How to Prevent It), The Ultimate Home Maintenance Checklist (Printable). If you use the right cleaner, your floors only need a light mist. It’s super powerful and comes with plenty of attachments for hardwood floors. Use the links below to navigate this article: The first and easiest step in the process is to remove loose dirt and dust from your floors. It is best to check with the manufacturer of your wood floor, before you deep clean it. Have you tried any products that work well? Next, you will require a concentrated hard wood cleaner. Here’s the cleaning and maintenance schedule that the National Wood Flooring Association recommends: Hardwood floors don’t need to be cleaned as often if you take some simple preventative measures to limit your floors’ exposure to dirt, dust, and stains. The best tool for this step is a vacuum with a floor attachment that has soft bristles. (19 Examples). It is best to use a soft bristled broom for this, and ensure that you don’t miss any spot. It’s not only safe for your floors, but it’s also non-toxic, non-flammable, biodegradable, and, making it safe for you and your family. Rejuvenate vs. Keeping hardwood floors clean and beautiful isn’t a complicated process; you just need to stay on top of it. my in-depth comparison of Bissell vs. Dyson vacuums, Dyson Big Ball Multi-Floor Canister Vacuum, Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner, GREENGUARD Children and Schools Certified, How to Deep Clean Tile Floors: 6 Simple Steps, The Ultimate House Cleaning Checklist (Printable), Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner (The Ultimate Review), Top 4 Best Vacuums for Hardwood Floors and Area Rugs (Including Pictures). Avoid all water-based floor cleaners as those will quickly absorb into the wood and lead to irreversible damage. Whatever you do, never underestimate the power of regular maintenance for your wooden floors. . When this happens, dip a microfiber cloth or. You can’t go wrong with either of these specially formulated cleaners, but you can go wrong by trying to develop a solution of your own. Bona: Which Floor Cleaner and Polish Is the Best? Now that you’ve removed the dust and dirt, identified the finish, and gathered the proper cleaning solutions, it’s time to get cleaning. When moisture gets in, the wood expands and begins to warp—not good. Doing so prevents streaking and allows the fibers of the mop to pick up dirt and grime that’s wedged between the floorboards. The floors throughout the main floor of our house are original 1946 oak hardwood. Here’s the cleaning and maintenance schedule that the. For more substantial waxy messes, I recommend the Heat and Wipe method. I’ve talked to many unaffiliated floor experts over the past several years, and 8 out of 10 of them recommend Bona products. It is soft, absorbent, and is ideally suited for the purpose. Goo Gone is specially formulated to clean up sticky messes (or Goo) while leaving the surfaces, in this case, your floor, completely unharmed. Start by placing mats both outside and inside exterior doors to minimize the dirt carried in from outside. Surface finishes don’t allow water to penetrate, so it’s safe to use most water-based cleaning solutions. All you have to do is spray it on any stain (wine, coffee, water, pet mess, etc. If you don’t have a mop with a microfiber head, you can buy one on Amazon (they’re very inexpensive), or you can use a regular sponge mop. Check for stains on the floor, and remove them with the help of a suitable stain remover, sprayed on a piece of cloth. It’s super powerful and comes with plenty of attachments for hardwood floors. If you use an iron, place several paper towels on the wax and a washcloth on top of the paper towels. Is It A Good Idea to Steam Clean Hardwood Floors? Don’t pour the solution as the excess water can damage the floor; mist a small amount. Determine whether your floors are protected with a surface or penetrating finish. For long term care, its best that you routinely sweep and/or vacuum your hardwood flooring… The baking soda will absorb and deodorize the nasty smell. The best one, by far, is the Woca Denmark Spot Remover. As I mentioned earlier, prolonged exposure to the acid in vinegar can damage your floor, so ‘not enough’ is always better than ‘too much.’. Water stains are common on hardwood floors, and the biggest culprits are potted plants. Press the iron (no steam) on the washcloth in five-second increments. Remove deep stains, grease, and scuff marks. Like I mentioned, there are dozens of others if you browse the cleaning aisle at any home improvement store. All you have to do is pull the trigger below the handle to wet the floor as you mop. Speaking of which…. Bona vs. Swiffer: Which Floor Mop Is the Best? After you dry the area, sprinkle baking soda on it and let that sit for a couple of hours. Two other things you’ll want to tackle while deep cleaning your wood floors: grime around the baseboards, and buildup in the corners. Once cold and hard, you can easily chip off the gum with a plastic knife or any other flat tool. If the floor smudges but no transparent materials scrape off, it’s a penetrating finish. Bona water-based wood floor cleaners are incredibly effective and have very low VOC emissions making them not only safe for your floors but also safe for you. To ensure that your hard wood floor lasts long, keep the following tips in mind: Hard wood floors occupy the pride of place in your home. You can’t go wrong with either of these specially formulated cleaners, but you can go wrong by trying to develop a solution of your own. Not only will it protect your floor from spills, but it will also stick to the floor and prevent you from slipping. Some brooms have thicker bristles that won’t pick up dust as well and could scratch your floor. Keeping hardwood floors clean and beautiful isn’t a complicated process; you just need to stay on top of it. So how exactly do you deep clean hardwood floors? says to avoid them on hardwoods because they expose the wood to excessive heat and moisture. Bottom line—there’s a reason that specially formulated floor cleaners come in a spray bottle. Add a fresh coat of finish. Spoiler: I highly recommend canister-style vacuums, and the best one you can buy is the Dyson Ball Multi Floor Canister Vacuum (also helpful: my in-depth comparison of Bissell vs. Dyson vacuums). When this happens, dip a microfiber cloth or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge in a 4 to 1 water/vinegar solution and gently rub out the residue. Spray it on the residue, let it sit for 5 minutes, then wipe it off with a damp cloth. Walking with rubber-soled shoes or dragging furniture across your hardwoods will cause unsightly scuff marks. Every Month: Perform a deep cleaning. If neither of those two methods does the trick, mix a little baking soda in water, dab a clean towel or the. Completely sand down, re-stain, and refinish your floors. In humid weather, operate a ceiling fan or the air conditioner to speed up the drying. To remove chewing gum that’s stuck to your floor, put a handful of ice cubes in a plastic bag and hold it against the gum until it turns rock-hard.