How To Clean Wood Floors

Wooden flooring has long been a staple of classic interior design, and it’s not hard to see why. This natural, rustic material has endless aesthetic appeal, is incredibly hard-wearing and often seems to get better with age. Here, we take a look at how to clean your wood floors to ensure they stay spick and span while retaining their original beauty.

How to maintain a clean wood floor

Looking after your wood floor is a matter of routine care and gentle cleaning. Hardwood doesn’t like getting soaking wet, so it’s important to minimise contact with water as much as possible. Here are our five tips for keeping your beautiful solid wood flooring clean without damaging it.

1. Brush regularly

The number one piece of advice is to brush up regularly with a soft-bristled brush. All domestic surfaces collect dust, dead skin, fluff, lint and dirt from outside, and although you would barely notice a few days’ worth, over time they will form a layer, and oils and pigments will escape from them and get into your flooring.

All the experts agree you should brush away this dust regularly – even if you can’t see it. They disagree on the frequency, however. Some say daily, others say two or three times a week. Most people don’t have time to brush all their floors daily, so get into a routine of brushing at least twice a week and you should slow down deterioration drastically.

2. Vacuuming is OK – with care

Vacuuming is fine, but be gentle. Don’t use an upright vacuum with rotating bristles – use the lightest possible touch, with the softest possible head. Regular vacuuming with too harsh a cleaner will, over time, damage the surface of your flooring.

3. Mop up every now and again

Mopping up is fine, and it’s an effective way of picking up dust and dirt. But there are a few rules you should follow:

• Brush up first – this will remove any bits of grit that could scratch the top surface.
• Wring as much water as possible out of the mop – this is not a tiled kitchen floor, so don’t treat it like one. Use as little water as possible.
• It’s OK to use a cleaning product, but only use one that’s suitable for wooden flooring, like a PH neutral cleaning spray or a mild mix of soapy water (always remembering not to get the floor too wet).
• Give your floor a mop at least once a month, and spot clean in between.

4. Dry up spillages quickly

If you spill a drink on your wood floor, act quickly. Although the surface may be treated for spillages, it’s not magic – red wine, coffee, cola, tea or fruit juice could stain it if allowed to soak in. Wipe spillages clean with a cloth and then use a slightly damp cloth to finish off.

Even water can damage your floor if a puddle is allowed to stand, so be sure to dry it off straight away.

5. Rinse it with pure water

If you’ve cleaned up a spillage or have washed your floor with or without a cleaning product, empty out your mop bucket and re-fill it with clean tepid water. Again, wring out as much water as possible and rinse the floor. If you have a “clean water” mop for this purpose, that’s even better. Normal mopping is great, but can just move dirt from one place to another. A clean rinse should give the perfect finish.

Some important don’ts

Here are some important things to avoid to get the maximum out of your wood floor:

• Don’t soak it
• Don’t use wax-based products
• Don’t use abrasives
• Don’t use ammonia-based cleaners
• Don’t use vinegar
• Don’t use a steam cleaner

These can all damage the visible layer.

Prevention is better than cure

Keeping your wood floors in good condition is just as important as cleaning up. Follow these rules and you’ll add years to the flooring’s lifespan.

• Get protective pads for furniture feet
• Use a doormat to wipe your feet
• Avoid high heels and stilettos 
• If possible, remove all outdoor shoes
• Avoid direct sunlight

What about engineered wood floors?

If you have engineered wood flooring as opposed hardwood, don’t worry. The cleaning instructions for this alternate material remain the same as above, with a gentle, non-abrasive approach being the best course of action.

With these simple tips and tricks you’ll be able to maintain your beautiful wooden flooring for years and years to come – and to enjoy watching them simply get better with age.