Do you have hardwood floors in your house? If so, then this article is for you! We all know that hardwood floors are beautiful and add a lot of value to our homes. But did you know they can also be expensive to clean and maintain? To keep them looking their best we recommend following these simple steps:

Mockup white wall in loft style house with sofa and accessories in the room.3d rendering

Sweep and Mop

You will need a broom, mop, bucket filled with water, and half a cup of vinegar.

First, you want to sweep your floor using the traditional method or an electric sweeper for deeper cleaning. After that is done using the same tools but in a different matter for mopping. Instead of filling up the bucket with just plain water, add half a cup of vinegar into the mix.

Boiling water should be poured onto the floor and allowed to sit for an hour before mopping it up.

After this, you can come back with your mop and give it another cleaning using just plain hot water mixed with about one teaspoon of dish detergent. This will give your floor a nice shine without leaving it too wet.

You can then use the same mop to dry up all of that water you just poured out which will leave your hardwood floors looking amazing!

With water being the number one enemy of wood, you must keep your floors safe from any spills. A finish can make all the difference in how well a wet floor behaves when walking on them or cleaning it up after an accident has occurred.

How to clean hardwood floor with Bona

After you have mopped your floors, they must be allowed to dry completely before anything else. Now, in the case of spills or accidents where this might not be quite possible (kids and pets can make a mess), there is another way around this dilemma besides just leaving everything to dry by itself.

For spills, try using a hardwood floor cleaner with a damp mop and clean the area immediately so that it doesn’t have time to soak into your beautiful floors. Make sure that you use only about one capful of this type of product when mopping because too much can leave behind an unwanted film on your floors.

Mopping should ideally be done with a fresh, clean mop every time and not the same one you used for mopping up your floors after they have been rinsed off because this can leave behind lint or dust bunnies which will get stuck in between your hardwood floor’s grooves.

To remove any dust or dirt that has gotten stuck in the grooves, simply sprinkle a bit of baking soda onto your mop and use it to sweep over this area.

Using Bona hardwood floor cleaner will ensure that you don’t have to apply too much elbow grease when mopping up spills because it is specially formulated for easy cleaning without leaving behind any residue.

Bona is also available in different forms like sprays, wipes, and mops which can make things easier if you are not comfortable with using a traditional mop.

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Vacuum, Sweep, or Mop?

Vacuuming is the most important part of maintaining hardwood floors. When you vacuum your floor each week it will remove dust and other particles that might scratch your floor over time. Make sure to use a natural bristle brush attachment on Carpet/Rug setting for vacuuming wood floors.

Stick to a weekly cleaning schedule. The frequency of your cleanings depends on how many people walk through the house and what type of flooring you have. For example, if you have high-traffic areas it may be necessary to do daily or even twice daily sweeping or vacuuming depending on how dirty the floors get.

If you have hardwood flooring that has recently been refinished, you’ll want to clean less frequently.

For cleaning wood floors it is best to use a Swiffer Sweeper dry or wet cloths because they are disposable and made with materials safe for wood floors. You can also sweep the floor first with a broom or dust mop before using the sweeper cloths.

Do not use water or cleaning solvents on hardwood floors because they can damage and dull your floor’s shine over time. The Swiffer Sweeper dry cloth is designed with a unique dirt grip texture to pick up large particles like dust, hair, and crumbs without leaving behind any residue that might be hard to see on your floor.

Hardwood floor surface damages

Hardwood floors are highly susceptible to surface damages such as dents, scratches, scuffs, and others. When you have pets or kids in the house it can be a nightmare to keep your hardwood floors scratch-free!

If you want to avoid these damages as much as possible there are a few things that can help prevent them from happening:

Doormats on each entrance of the home

Put away your pet’s toys and other belongings that might cause damage

Keep your hardwood floors clean and vacuum them often. This will prevent dust build-up which can scratch the flooring surface easily

Now, if you do happen to notice a little scuff or dent on your hardwood floor don’t panic! There are lots of DIY tips you can follow to help get rid of them.

Use an eraser instead of sandpaper if you need to smooth out larger surface damages

To get rid of smaller surface damages use a mixture of soapy water and lemon juice. This will help lift the scuff marks without damaging your hardwood floors even more!

For deeper scuffs, you can try using a wax candle. Just rub the scuffed area with the candle and let it sit for about 30 minutes before wiping away any excess residue

Use mink oil on your hardwood floors to help get rid of surface damages while also adding some shine at the same time!

To keep your wood floor shiny always remember to use a microfiber cloth to remove dust and dirt build-up.

Finally, you should consider using hardwood floor cleaners once in a while as well! These are specifically designed for hardwood floors so they won’t damage them or leave any residues behind that could attract more dust which can cause scratches over time.

Care of hardwood floors with vinegar

Using vinegar to clean hardwood floors is a great way to get them clean and make sure they stay beautiful. The vinegar naturally helps remove dirt and grime that accumulates over time on the floor, which means you won’t be using any harsh chemicals or detergents that can damage your hardwood floors in the process.

When you are ready to clean your hardwood floors, mix a solution of distilled white vinegar and water in equal parts. Vinegar is an acid that naturally breaks down dirt and grime on the floor while being gentle enough for use with natural wood materials. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle or bucket depending on how much cleaning you need to do.

Next, grab a mop and some cleaning pads so you can get to work on those hardwood floors. You may want to use a natural bristle brush for scrubbing stubborn dirt or grime from the floor if needed as well.

After cleaning with vinegar, follow up by mopping with a clean mop and freshwater. Make sure to use a microfiber mop to dry the floors completely before walking on them again. Remember water is not your hardwoods friend.

What is the best way to clean unsealed hardwood floors?

Unsealed hardwood floors are the best for people who want to get their floors refinished periodically.

Sweep or vacuum cleaner your floor every day – Dry mopping is also recommended using a microfiber mop head that will not scratch wood surfaces.

Use white vinegar mixed with warm water on unsealed wooden floors, which will help to remove dirt, floor wax and make it look brighter.

If you want a more thorough cleaning, mix up some warm water with baking soda and use this mixture like regular cleaner on your floor.

For an easier way of removing any wax residues from the floors without having them stripped down completely; just pour some hot vinegar over the affected area.

You can also use cornmeal to help prevent further build-up of wax on the floor before you have it refinished, which will save time and money in the long run.

Take care of bamboo hardwood floors?

Bamboo flooring is often finished with a glossy sealant, so clean it the same way you would high gloss furniture. Use mild dishwashing soap and damp microfiber cloths to wipe down bamboo floors frequently. This will remove any dirt or grime before it has time to stick in place.

You may need slightly more elbow grease to clean a hardwood bamboo floor, so feel free to use a soft-bristled brush if necessary.

Use mild dishwashing soap and damp microfiber cloths for quick cleaning

Apply more elbow grease with a soft bristle brush as needed

You should not use harsh chemicals with bamboo floors. Some of these cleaners can damage or discolor the surface, so stick to natural cleaning products where possible. This will save you money in the long run, while still maintaining your bamboo hardwood floors.

Taking care of vinyl wood flooring

Taking care of vinyl wood flooring is very different from hardwood floor care. It is especially important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when caring for vinyl hardwood floors. Likewise, it needs to be done in a specific way and with particular products that are not suitable for other materials such as hardwood flooring.

Always choose the proper cleaner for your vinyl flooring. For instance, you should never use bleach or vinegar to clean a vinyl hardwood floor as they might discolor it and distort its appearance.

You can do it! Maintaining and cleaning your hardwood floor is easy. If you follow these tips, we guarantee that your floors will look as good as the day they were installed. With a little bit of effort on your part, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful solid wood floors for many years to come.

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