DIY Wood Floor Cleaning Basics

Wooden floors lend any house an air of elegance. However, if they are not properly maintained, they end up being symbols of neglect instead of affluence. And surface impressions are just one thing: in the long run, wooden floors that are not regularly cleaned will get damaged and might even rot.

Hence, it’s important to keep wooden floors spic and span. Here is a step-by-step guide to cleaning them:

1. First determine the age of the wooden floors.This guide is written with freshly installed wooden floors in mind, as they use the newest generation of protective coating.
   
   For older floors, it is suggested to seek the help of a professional cleaner. After all, these floors may have used finishes that may not be waterproof. Many cleaners out in the market today are water-based; the water from these cleaners may seep through the old coating and damage the floor instead of cleaning them.
2. Vacuum the floor to get rid of any loose dirt or particles. Make sure to vacuum in the direction of the grain to suck up dirt that’s stuck in the grooves. Microfiber cloths can be also used to dust off the wood.
3. Run a damp mop to clean the floor. How damp is damp? It should be just dipped in the bucket and wrung out to be almost dry. Run the mop once to remove the dirt; then repeat it to clean the rest up. Never use a soaking wet mop to clean a wooden floor.
4. Alternatively, use a wood wash solution. Use the damp mop from earlier or use a sprayer and a rag. And make sure to dilute the wood wash, for it usually comes in concentrate form.
5. Use a clean rag or mop to buff the floor dry.This will, of course, ensure that you are not leaving any unwanted residue on the surface.
6. Optional: wax the wooden floor. For some wooden surfaces, this is the only way to achieve a kind of gloss seen on commercial floors. And don’t be scared off by the prospect of additional wax. Compared to other kinds of wax in the past, the newer kinds of acrylic-based wax available today are simply applied and left to dry. This only needs to be done once or twice a year.

A final note of caution: for heavily damaged wooden flooring, a DIY solution may not be the best course of action. Call a professional cleaning crew as these floors may require extensive restoration or even replacement.

All American Cleaning offers an intensive wood floor cleaning service from start to finish for homes in and around Idaho Falls, Idaho. This service also includes refinishing, recoating, and resanding. For more information about our services, call our 24-hour emergency service hotline at 208-203-1512.