As a homeowner, you would want to retain the shine of your hardwood floors for years. However, Hardwood floor cleaning London can quickly become a real headache if you do not apply the right cleaning technique. For effective wood floor cleaning, it is important that you approach it right.
Experts recommend cleaning them often with the right cleaning method. It is the floors of any house that see the greatest traffic. The dust, dirt, debris, and grime are not good for your wooden floors, making them expensive to repair, refurbish or even replace.
All you need is a couple of handy tools and some natural products to give your wood floors a shiny new look. Make sure you do the process religiously and regularly. In this post, we will talk about how you can clean your hardwood floors naturally without seeking help from professionals (suitable if you are against all the chemicals that professionals use for cleaning).
How Often Should You Clean Hardwood Floors?
Quick routine cleanings a few times a week can keep dirt at bay. The dirt, dust and grime stuck to hardwood floors can easily come off with a microfibre dust mop. The mop is designed in a manner that it will not leave scratches on your floors (unlike some vacuums).
For deep cleaning, you would want to mop your floors once or twice a month, giving the wood a shine. If you want to keep the shine, use vinegar for mopping.
Things You May Want to Consider
It is important before approaching cleaning that you check if the floors are sealed. Take time to study the type of finish that your flooring has. Is it a polyurethane finish with which the floor is sealed?
But how to know if the floor is sealed? A quick test – drop some water on the floor and check if it sits on the surface. If yes, then the floor is sealed and you can clean it with a water-based cleaning solution.
If the floor absorbs the water drop in no time, understand that the sealant was never there or has been worn away. In that case, you will want to limit water use for cleaning. Experts suggest regular dust mopping for these types of floors.
For deeper cleaning, a damp microfibre cloth should do the trick.
Always make sure there is no clutter present. As soon as you notice any clutter, get rid of it. This ensures faster and more effective cleaning.
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Choose the right time to approach cleaning. The ideal time for cleaning is when foot traffic is the bare minimum. A great example of this could be instances when all the family members go out.
To ensure effective cleaning, it is important you plan a suitable route. Going from the direction of one corner of the room to the other (door) is the best way to prevent leaving footsteps on a clean wooden floor.
Quick dry is a must. After mopping, turn on the ceiling fans to speed up the drying process.
Things You Will Need for Cleaning
- Vacuum without a beater bar
- Distilled white vinegar
- Dry microfiber dust mop
- Wet microfiber mop
- Soft-bristled toothbrush
- Handheld vacuum
Cleaning Hardwood Floors
Start cleaning by taking off loose dust, soil particles, and mud (if any). For this, use a vacuum without a beater bar (as it can damage the wood) or a broom to remove the loose dust. A microfibre dust mop is ideal for your wooden floors. The microfibres are great at attracting and trapping dirt. Then you can easily toss the mop head in the washer to clean it up.
A homemade DIY remedy:
Combine 1-gallon water with a cup of distilled white vinegar to create a cleaning solution.
Make sure it is not overwet. Applying excess water on your hardwood floors is not something experts recommend.
While cleaning starts at one corner of the room and ends at the door. Rinse your mop more often.
Once you are done mopping, leave the floor to air dry. Do not walk on it.
Have Cracks on Your Wooden Floors: How to Clean Them?
Poorly installed hardwood or older floors are more likely to catch and trap dirt. During periods of low humidity, cracks make the condition of the wood even worse. This is due to the low humid present in the air which causes the wood to dry out quickly in the presence of dirt and dust.
While wiping away dirt from cracks is easy, it can consume a lot of your valuable time.
Start by cleaning in small sections. Make sure you start at one corner of the room to the door until you are finished mopping.
Take ¼ cup of distilled white vinegar and mix it with 2 cups of warm water. In that solution, dip a toothbrush (make sure it has soft bristles) into the mixture and shake until it becomes damp. Then with the brush gently wipe away the dust and vacuum it up with a handheld vacuum. Once you are done, finish it off by mopping the floor as you would normally do.
Is It Okay to Steam Clean Wood Floors?
Floors that do not feature pores such as sheet vinyl, polished cement, ceramic tile and stone respond well to steam mopping. But infusing too much moisture and high temperature can cause damage to the wood, making them discoloured, warp and crack. This is especially the case when your floors are not sealed.
When it comes to steam hardwood floor cleaner and polish in London, make sure the floors are well-sealed and without any signs of worn spots. Before you start steam mopping, set it to the lowest temperature.
Sustaining the Finish of Hardwood Floors for Longer
Cleaning floors is not enough, you want them to keep them in their best shape at all times. If there are spills, wipe them off as soon as possible. As mentioned earlier, too much moisture is not good for wood.
To keep the floor clean always, make sure you dust mop daily. A quick mop in high-traffic areas should do the trick.
Loose soil and mud can be removed by mopping. Do so at least once a week.
Vacuum cleaners featuring a beater bar are the foe of wooden floors as they can leave scratches or dents.
Doormats can be put inside and outside of your doors.
Got any queries regarding professional cleaning? At Vip Carpet Cleaning London, we are always available to give the assistance you need. Be it you need professional cleaning services or want a quote, get in touch without hesitating.
