Learn how to care for hardwood floors by using these natural cleaners and following these simple tips.
Hardwood floors provide an earthy, warm beauty to your home. They’re well-built and, with proper care, will last for decades. You can you can keep them looking lovely by following these guidelines on how to clean hardwood flooring surfaces.
The first step : Use a dust mop or just vacuum to remove dirt, dust, housepet hair and other debris that could scratch the floor. Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar attachment as it could damage the surface of the floor. Use the floor-brush attachment. Depending upon traffic and the number of pets and children you have, you’ll need to do this at the least once a week.
Dust mopping won’t remove the dirt and grime that build up as time passes. For periodic deep cleaning, you’ll need to use a liquid cleanser. You can use a commercial wood-cleaning product, like Bona or Murphy’s Oil Soap. Make sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions. You can as well make your own cleaner by mixing up one part vinegar to 10 parts warm water. Add a small amount of drops of liquid Castile soap.
Anything cleaner you choose, the process for how to clean wood floors and how can you clean engineered hardwood floors is similar. Saturate a rag or sponge mop in your cleaning solution. Wring it out thoroughly so the mop is damp, not wet. Mop the floor with the cleaner, being careful to not put too much liquid on the floor. Rinse the mop with nice and clean water, wring out excess, and damp mop the floor to get rid off the cleaner. Wipe up excess water with a clean, dry towel because standing water might possibly damage the floor.
You can also use boiling water and two teabags to clean hardwood floors. The tannic acid in tea creates a delightful shine. Let two teabags steep in the boiling water for a few minutes. Pour the tea into a bucket. Take a smooth cloth and wring it out in the tea. The cloth actually needs to be damp, not soaked. This will enable the floor to dry quite easily. Wash the floor and be ready to be amazed by the sheen.
Covering scratches that remain after cleaning is part of knowing how to clean a wood floor. Take a crayon the color of the floor and rub it on the scratch to fill the gap. Turn a blow dryer on high, heat up the area where the crayon was applied and buff it with smooth cloth.
Prevent dirt and damage to your newly cleaned flooring surfaces. Put doormats inside and outside exterior doors to reduce the dirt and moisture tracked in. Avoid scratches by using floor protectors under furniture and putting down rugs in high-traffic areas. Having the ability to clean a wood floor will keep yours looking beautiful for years.
