Prolonged heat exposure can damage your floor finish, so only use the iron for a minute. In case your floor has suffered substantial damage, you can give it a new finish after sanding it. If it absorbs quickly into the wood, you have a penetrating finish. You can also buy a, To learn more about why I recommend Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner, check out, Alternatively, Bona makes a great microfiber mop that comes with their cleaner and spray functionality built-in. Mop with a floor cleaner designed for the finish on your particular floors and spot-treat stains. Note: The techniques I’m about to describe are for treating stains on wood floors with surface finishes (polyurethane and urethane). If large areas are scuffed up, cut a hole in a tennis ball and attach it to a broomstick, so you don’t have to bend over. In this method, you apply heat with either a hair dryer or clothing iron (on the lowest setting) to loosen the wax. The simplest way to clean wax from your floors is to gently scrape it off with a plastic utensil, spatula, or credit card. If you take anything away from this article, please take this: water and wood are natural enemies. Bona water-based wood floor cleaners are incredibly effective and have very low VOC emissions making them not only safe for your floors but also safe for you. If you use the right cleaner, your floors only need a light mist. Water stains are common on hardwood floors, and the biggest culprits are potted plants. says to avoid them on hardwoods because they expose the wood to excessive heat and moisture. . It is best to check with the manufacturer of your wood floor, before you deep clean it. There are two categories of floor finishes; surface and penetrating. Regardless of the type of finish, it’s important to mop in the direction of the floorboards. If your home was built before 1920, there’s a decent chance your floors have a penetrating finish. ), or you can use a regular sponge mop. If you use an iron, place several paper towels on the wax and a washcloth on top of the paper towels. Dip a cloth in the water/vinegar solution and scrub the stained area for a few minutes. The steam from the iron will lift the grease into the cloth. When this happens, rub the paint with a damp microfiber cloth. This type of finish is so popular because it makes floors super durable and easy to maintain. . All you have to do is spray it on any stain (wine, coffee, water, pet mess, etc. Step 3: Pick the Right Hardwood Floor Cleaner, Step 4: Mop in the Direction of the Floorboards. For more details, check out this product’s technical datasheet. To remove chewing gum that’s stuck to your floor, put a handful of ice cubes in a plastic bag and hold it against the gum until it turns rock-hard. All Rights Reserved. You can save money buying generic brands, but I typically choose Bona products since they’re a trusted brand that has been completely dedicated to the installation, renovation, maintenance, and care of wood floors. Spray the cleaner on the floors and mop in the direction of the floorboards. that repeated use will degrade the finish and lead to severe damage. Sometimes oils or dirt gets embedded within the mop or cleaning pad, leaving behind a film. You can save money buying generic brands, but I typically choose Bona products since they’re a trusted brand that has been completely dedicated to the installation, renovation, maintenance, and care of wood floors since 1919. The floors throughout the main floor of our house are original 1946 oak hardwood. My floor is walnut. It comes in a spray bottle, making it easy to apply while keeping the amount of moisture in check. It’s super powerful and comes with plenty of attachments for hardwood floors. Deep clean with a natural or commercial wood cleaning solution every month. We hope you enjoyed reading our ideas for cleaning heavily soiled hardwood floors. Make sure that water does not collect anywhere, as this is bad for your floor. Now that you’ve removed the dust and dirt, identified the finish, and gathered the proper cleaning solutions, it’s time to get cleaning. Keeping hardwood floors clean and beautiful isn’t a complicated process; you just need to stay on top of it. To ensure that your hard wood floor lasts long, keep the following tips in mind: Hard wood floors occupy the pride of place in your home. If the water hasn’t penetrated the surface of the floor, the stain should wipe right off. The best product on the market is the Bona Professional Series Natural Oil Hardwood Floor Cleaner (see on Amazon). To get rid of grease and oil stains, mix a few dashes of dish soap with water and use a cloth to rub the stains gently in a circular motion. If you take anything away from this article, please take this: The techniques I’m about to describe are for treating stains on wood floors with surface finishes (polyurethane and urethane). So how exactly do you deep clean hardwood floors? However, you also need to deep clean them once every two months or so if you want them to look clean and shiny. It’s super powerful and comes with plenty of attachments for hardwood floors. For both, use the crevice attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove dirt. The best one, by far, is the. If this doesn’t work, your last resort is to lightly sand the area until the stain is gone and reseal it with a surface finish. Use the links below to navigate this article: The first and easiest step in the process is to remove loose dirt and dust from your floors. Every Week: Vacuum using a wood floor attachment that won’t cause scratches. If you do not have a mop handy and are looking for a suitable cloth, then a cloth diaper is best. © 2020 Prudent Reviews LLC. Before you can get into the “deep, thorough clean”, you need to start by ensuring all of the dust, debris, and dander are off the floors. Canister vs. Upright: Which Type of Vacuum Is Best for You? What Cleaning Products Contain Ammonia? The fifth, and final, step is to tackle those scuffs and stains that remain on your hardwoods after mopping. If the floor smudges but no transparent materials scrape off, it’s a penetrating finish. When this happens, dip a microfiber cloth or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge in a 4 to 1 water/vinegar solution and gently rub out the residue. For surface-finished floors, spray the water-based hardwood floor cleaner of your choice on your floors and wipe it immediately with a microfiber cloth or floor mop with a microfiber cloth head. If you notice water staining on your floors, first try wiping it with a slightly damp cloth. Bottom line—there’s a reason that specially formulated floor cleaners come in a spray bottle. If your current vacuum doesn’t have an attachment for wood floors, the next best option is to use a floor mop that has a detachable microfiber head like, If you don’t have a vacuum safe for hardwood floors or a microfiber mop, sweep up the loose dirt and dust with a broom that, has fine bristles and exploded/split tips (.