How to Clean Your Hardwood Floor

Want to know how to clean your hardwood floor and make it shine? Follow these step by step instructions to keeping your floors clean and maintained without damaging them.

Moving into my new home, I was really excited as I have never had hardwood floors before. They can really elevate the look of a room, but it can be difficult to keep them looking beautiful, if you don’t now how to maintain them. Don’t worry, knowing how to keep them clean, remove stains and scuffs is the secret to ensuring you hardwood floors always look as good as new.

If you want your hardwood floors to last for years, regular cleaning and maintenance is key. They can easily be damaged by shoes, moving furniture or general wear and tear. I have found having hardwood is a durable option when it comes to flooring, but with the proper care add a chic look to every home.

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This post is all about how to clean your hardwood floor

How often should you clean your hardwood floors?

The frequency of cleaning your floors will depend on a number of factors, the amount of traffic that walks on them, if anything if dropped or spilt on them and if anyone walks on them with shoes on.

As a general rule, your floors should be clean with a microfibre dust mop every other day to keep to top of any dust gathering. I recommend that you vacuum them weekly to stay on top of heavier dirt and mud that could be walked in from outside. Floors should be deep cleaned once a month to keep them looking their best.

Supplies needed to clean hardwood floors

Vacum cleaner
Microfiber dust mop
Hardwood floor cleaner
Microfibre spray mop

how to clean your hardwood floor

1. Dust your floor

Every other day use a microfibre dust mop to remove any dust and debris. It can accumulate easily on hardwood floors, the key to keeping it looking nice is to stay on top of any dust gathering.

2. Remove any scuffs or spills

One of the most important things I have learned about maintaining a hardwood floor is to remove any liquid as soon as it is spilt. If you can remove it before pools of liquid seep Ito the wood it will prevent any water damage or stains. Simply use a absorbent cloth to soak up the liquid.

Acting quickly to remove stains will prolong the life of your flooring. I recommend gently using a damp cloth and baking powder.

3. vacuum clean your floors

Using a soft bristle attachment, vacuum clean your floor on every week. Vacuuming is a great time to check the condition of your floor. Look out for any discolouration from light sources or any damp patches due to humidity.

4. wet mop floors

After you have vacuumed it’s a great idea to wet mop the floor. This helps to thoroughly clean your floor. I recommend that you don’t use a steam mop as these can leave water and vapour behind that can seep into the wood causing it to become damaged.

Use a natural hardwood floor cleaner that isn’t acidic can help reduce discolouration. Using a wet mop is a lot easier than using a mop and bucket making it far more efficient and leaving your floor with a beautiful shine.

How to maintain your hardwood floor

Keeping your floors stain and scuff free is key to maintaining your hardwood floor.

As soon as possible wipe up any spills, this will prevent any stains.
Try not to wear shoes around your home.
To remove streaks, use a dry cloth after mopping.
Clean your floor regularly
When vacuuming use a soft bristle attachment, this will help avoid scratches.
To remove scuffs use baking powder and a damp sponge, this should remove them with ease.
Reduce the amount of sunlight on your floors, this will prevent discolouration. I recommend using blinds or light weight curtains in areas that have direct sunlight.

This post is all about how to clean your hardwood floor