We all love to have hardwood floors in our homes. We all spend hours and hours, trying to find the best wooden flooring for our newly built homes or while renovating them. Many times we end up with a messy floor and no solution to clean up the stained floor. In this guide, we will be discussing some simple tips to clean hardwood floors and make them mess free.
Tips to Clean Hardwood Floors
When we have heavily soiled wood floor, our immediate thought would be to use the soapy wood cleaner. However, we fail to realize that water and soap can damage floors, causing them to swell.
How to deep clean hardwood floors?
To maintain the appearance of your hardwood floors, proper maintenance is necessary. Today’s trendy latest finishes, hardwood flooring is easy to clean and maintain.
Types of stains
Before we proceed to clean hardwood floors, we must determine the type of stain. The type of stain determines the cleaning strategy. Sometimes simple wiping with a cloth can remove the stain. While in some cases, we need to develop some deep clean methods to erase the stain.
The first step would be to determine the condition of the floor, the type of stain to be removed and the duration for which the stain has been around. Once we evaluate all these, you can decide on the optimal solution to remove them.
Tips to Remove Stains on Hardwood Floors
Remember always that the faster you clean the stain, the easier it is to remove them. Therefore, consistency is key.
Wipe the Floor Boards
Always wipe the floorboard one at a time, using a cloth dipped in soapy water. Make sure to wipe the floor immediately with a dry cloth to remove excess water and dirt. This would prevent water from seeping into the floor. If the dirt is still there, use a soft brush to scrap it gently and then wipe the dirt with a soft cloth.
Check for wax finish
Some wooden floors have a wax coating on top to protect the surface. Before you clean, check if your hardwood floor has a wax finish. When we wipe with water on a wax coated surface, it will create a white spot. If your floor has multiple layers of wax, it will become dirty and make the surface look dull. In this case, you may need to remove the wax from the surface and then re-wax it again.
Removing black stains
If there are scuff marks or black dark stains, use a cloth dampened with mineral oil or a wood cleaner. Rub the stained area with oil or cleaner, before wiping them with a dry cloth. Make sure to use the right solvent for your floors, as some of them might darken the floor itself.
Removing grease
When there are grease marks on the floor, remove them by freezing. You may use a pack of ice or frozen vegetable pack to do this. Place the ice pack on top of the greased surface for a few minutes. Once the area is frozen, you need to scrap the area gently with a knife.
You may also use this method to remove tar marks from the surface.
Removing crayons
If you have young children at home, you are sure to encounter crayon marks all over the floor. To remove such marks, rub the area gently with mineral oil and then wipe with a soft cloth. Alternatively, you may also use some toothpaste, rub it on the area and gently wipe with a soft cloth.
How to Choose Best Wood Floor Cleaner?
As far as cleaning is concerned, there are only two kinds of finishes: floors sealed with urethane, polyurethane or sealant and those that are unfinished or finished with oils, varnish or shellac.
The first kind is the easiest to clean. All you need to do is sweep and damp mop them with hardwood floor cleaning solution.
For those that are not sealed, you must avoid mopping as unfinished floors are sensitive to water penetration. The best option is to vacuum and sweep them on a regular basis. Every year it is better to strip the old wax using mineral oil or hardwood wax stripper, and then add a new layer of wax, buff up the floor, to make them look new and shiny.
General Cleaning Tips
It is always better to vacuum hardwood floors instead of mopping them. Unless the floor is extremely messy with a lot of stains, it is better to avoid water.
Use a dampened cloth to remove stains. Do not pour water on the stained surface and then wipe it with a cloth. Immediately after using a damp cloth, wipe the area with a clean, dry cloth.
Reiterating the earlier point, consistency is the key. Regular maintenance of hardwood floors will keep them clean and shiny. Deep clean the hardwood floor at least once a month, using a vacuum and recommended hardwood cleaners.
Avoid using household products or soap oils. Soap water can make the floor swell and spoil the floor quickly.
Always test the cleaners in a small discreet area before using them throughout. Some solvents might darken or damage the floors.
Use this guide regarding Tips to Clean Hardwood Floors to create a cleaning routine for your home. Happy cleaning! Keep in touch with www.canistervacuums.reviews for more info.