Contrary to popular belief, hardwood floors are the easiest to maintain and clean. Perhaps what makes it easy to clean and maintain hardwood floors is the fact that unlike carpeting and other flooring materials, hardwood needs very little maintenance, and is very durable.
It goes without saying that a well maintained and clean hardwood floor can really turn the interior of your home into a haven, creating the illusion of space and charm. While cleaning the different types of hardwood floors requires no special formula or additional attention, some finishes used on hardwood may need extra care, especially when getting rid of stubborn and unsightly stains.
Simple Hardwood Cleaning
The easiest and most effective way you can clean your hardwood floor is by simply using a damp mop – further details here. The process is quite simple here. Start by dusting off the surfaces using a simple vacuum cleaner or a soft broom. After that you can start moping, rinsing, and then repeating to get rid of all dust, dirt, and grit from your hardwood floors. Remember that despite the fact that they are the hardiest flooring materials available in the market, grit and dirt are hardwood’s biggest enemy when it comes to scouring or scratching the finish on the floor.
There are several cleaners in the market today for cleaning hardwood floors, but the best one is a neutral cleanser i.e. one whose pH value is neutral, not too high nor too low. Such a cleaner used together with water can do a very effective job. As a general rule of thumb, always ensure your hardwood floor is well sealed before you start mopping. What this means is that places that are worn out should never come in contact with water, since it can penetrate through the opening and cause warping. Of course this compromises on the aesthetic appeal of your hardwood floor material, as well as its durability.
How To Clean Hardwood Floors With Polyurethane Finish?
Most hardwood floors today come with polyurethane finish. Ever come across a floor that looks shiny and glossy? Most probably it is polyurethane, a finish that assumes the look of a plastic coating over your hardwood. The best thing with this finish is that it is hard wearing, enhancing the durability of your floor even further. The other common finish is known as penetrating seals, and will come with oil or wax finishes that would equally penetrate and seep in through the wood. The best thing with the penetrating seals is the fact that they offer hardwood floor protection from the inside out.
You need to be very cautious when cleaning your hardwood floors that have a finish, because over scrubbing may compromise on the luster appeal of your hardwood floor, so you want to be easy on that. You also want to be easy with the cleaning material you will use, as most of them may end up stripping off the luster appeal.
With that being said, it is to be mentioned that all floors are vulnerable to dirt and stains, whether they are carpet or hardwood. You can use a fine steel wool to get rid of most stains, adding a little alcohol on it can make the stains come off easily from hardwood floors. Once you are done, you can always polish and buff your floor. Should the stain remain after cleaning with alcohol, sanding down the stained area could be the only viable option at your disposal.
