Helpful Hints for Cleaning Your Hardwood Floor

Able to be created from a range of different timbers and finished with natural varnishes, lacquers, oil or polyurethane, a hardwood floor is often a worthy feature of any home. Like many wooden structures, though, it’s important when it comes to cleaning that you do it the right way in order to preserve its quality for years to come. Below, Clint from Quicksand Flooring offers some top tips for cleaning your hardwood floor (which also includes lacquered, vinyl and laminates) so you can maintain the integrity of the finish and keep your surfaces looking fresh and clean.

While it’s important to note that specific cleaning instructions will differ according to the finish applied to the surface (incorrect cleaning methods could potentially compromise the finish), these are basic instructions that can be applied in any circumstance.

Create a Realistic Cleaning Schedule

Ideally, your floors should be cleaned once a week but life is busy and sticking to this schedule can be hard. Opting for a good clean once a month can be done with the WOCA Master Cleaner which is used in conjunction with water. You can add it to a bucket or a spray mop – whichever is easiest. For a deeper clean, you can use the WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner.

Once you’ve got the products that are best suited to your floor, you can begin the cleaning.

What You’ll Need

• Bucket
• Mop
• Water
• Cleaning Product(s) of choice

Take Out or Move Any Furniture That’s In The Way

Placing dining chairs or bar stools on the bench or dining table is one way to reduce the number of corners and awkward objects to try and clean around. This enables a faster, more effective and more efficient cleaning.

Vacuum or Sweep Up Any Loose Dust, Dirt or Debris

Homes with pets and children will easily accumulate dust, dirt and debris quickly. Vacuuming or sweeping your floors before this will enable you to focus on the tougher stains and areas of dirt / dust build up. Half the job is more or less done once you’ve vacuumed the room.

Mop the Floor

Now this step is where things might start to deviate depending on the type of finish applied to the floor’s surface. A polyurethane floor is best cleaned with water mixed with a few drops of dishwashing vinegar. Always use a damp mop rather than a wet mop and always be sure to go along the grain.

For water-based varnish, we recommend using a specialised cleaning mop like the ones from WOCA, Ciranova or Berger-Seidle. Our recommendation would be one of these timber floor cleaners. Follow their directions for use carefully and start your mopping.

Buff the Floor

Remove any soapy residue by buffing the floor with a soft cloth. This step is not always needed as it depends on the type of cleaner you’ve used.

Final Tips

• Reduce wear and tear on your furniture and timber floors with furniture felt pads.
• Avoid using steam mops on timber floors. Instead, use a spray or cotton mop.
• Do not use harsh chemicals such as bleach, ammonia or methylated spirits.
• A door mat can help reduce the amount of dust, dirt and debris that enters your home so placing one at the entrance of each external door can help.

Remember, cleaning and caring for your timber floors should be easy. If you need a free estimate for floor sanding in Melbourne, give our team a call.