Do you have hardwood floors that you need to clean but are overwhelmed about doing it correctly? Here's how to clean hardwoods safely and effectively!
When we bought our house two and a half years ago I was so stinking excited to have true hardwood floors throughout the majority of the house! However, I had never had to clean hardwoods before and I was pretty overwhelmed.
Being the neat freak I am, I wanted to make sure I had a way to clean my floors regularly without harming them. I did a ton of research and found a way that has been working really well in our home.
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when cleaning your hardwoods but overall the process can be pretty easy if you have the right tools. We will discuss a few different methods and what you may need to consider before tackling your hardwoods.
This post is all about clean hardwoods!
Clean Hardwoods
Before we get into deep cleaning your hardwood floors, there are some easy ways to maintain your floors in between washes.
I personally choose to use my Dyson most of the time for pet hair, dust, dirt and debris. However, I have been looking into a dust mop! Although I absolutely love my vacuum, there may be a more effective way to keep them clean.
Dust mops are great for collecting hair and dirt because this type of debris clings really well to the pads. The dust mop that I would recommend is below. I have it in my cart and will update you when I have my own personal review. However, the reviews on this product are amazing and I'm excited to try it.
If it a dust mop isn't your jam, the vacuum of your choice will also work just fine! You have to go with whatever product you think you will use more frequently. My Dyon is currently a really quick way to keep my floors clean until I am ready to mop!
Dust Mop
I love that this dust mop has a microfiber cloth that is known for collecting dust, dirt, hair, etc. You can easily throw the head in the wash in between cleans so it's always ready to go.
My Dyson
This is the vacuum that I always swear by. It has amazing reviews for a reason. The suction is amazing, it's super lightweight and I love how easy it is to empty the cannister. I can get a large amount of vacuuming done before it needs to be emptied or charged.
Deep Clean Hardwood Floors
As I mentioned previously, there are a few methods to deep cleaning your hardwood floors. You can choose to use a wet mop or a steam mop, hardwood floor cleaners or vinegar, etc. I have personally been using a steam mop and have had great results. However, steam mops can only be used on sealed hardwoods otherwise it can be damaging (so make sure to check your floors).
I have been loving my Shark Steam Mop for my floors. It is suggested that you use distilled water on hardwoods but I have been using regular water with no issues for the past few years. You fill the tank, turn it on and you have hot steam within seconds.
I personally like to add a few drops of essential oils to the mop head before I start so that my house smells super clean when I'm finished.
As always, make sure that your floors are clear of dirt, dust, hair and any other debris by vacuuming, dust mopping or sweeping. Once your floors are clean you can go in with the steam mop.
Make sure to mop in the direction of the grain to avoid any streaking. Let the area dry fully before putting back any rugs or furniture. Because it's steam the floors usually dry pretty quick!
This mop leaves my floors feeling super clean! It takes very little time and you would be amazed at how much the mop head pulls up when you're done. Simply toss the mop head in the washing machine when you're done!
This post may be about clean hardwoods, but I love using this on tile and LVP as well!
Quick review...
- Vacuum/Sweep/Dust Mop
- Add essential oils to your mop head
- Turn on steamer and let it heat up
- Steam mop with the grain of your hardwoods
- Let it dry fully before putting rugs/furniture back
Shark Steam Mop
Although this steam mop is amazing for hardwoods, there are a ton of other cool attachments for other areas of the house. Steam is a super effective way to tackle dirt, grime and grease. It comes with several mop heads and is super light weight.
Overall, keeping your hardwoods clean is not super difficult and is the best feeling when it's done. Keeping them clean will help them last longer and looking their best.
These products have definitely made my life easier when it comes to keeping my floors clean with a dog, a cat and a lot of foot traffic. I have had these items for over two years and they still work perfect.
As always the key to keeping things clean is to maintain them. I tend to steam mop my floors once a month with vacuuming weekly. Be sure to leave a comment below if you try any of these or have other tips and tricks for keeping your hardwoods clean!
This post is all about clean hardwoods!
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