3 Hardwood Floor Cleaning Tips for Your Home or Office

Cleaning your hardwood floor, whether it be in your home or office, is not something you want to take lightly or do without researching first.

A well-maintained hardwood floor can last a long time, so make sure you know exactly what you need to do to take care of it. Here are some simple tips to help you clean.

1. USE PROTECTION WHEN MOVING YOUR FURNITURE

To get to every square of flooring, you’ll have to move some furniture around. Hardwood floors can easily be scratched, nicked, or chipped if you do this the wrong way. The best, easiest, and cheapest way to move furniture is to use simple protection in the form of:

• Sliders: These are designed to be permanently attached to the base of your furniture so, when the time comes to clean, they can be easily and safely moved.
• Felt pads: Like sliders, these are attached to your furniture and are designed to protect your floor.
• Furniture Blankets: These are the largest option that would work best for the largest, hard-to-move furniture. These work by sliding them under heavier or larger pieces of furniture and then using them to move the furniture away.

2. VACUUM OR SWEEP BEFORE MOPPING

Before you set out with a mop, you’ll want to vacuum or sweep your hardwood floor to get the lighter dust and dirt and pick up any larger pieces that have settled onto it.

When it comes to choosing a vacuum, be sure you buy one that is designed to work on wooden floors and provides the correct suction to be useful on a hard surface. If you’re working with multiple types of surfaces (carpets, tiles, etc.) you can buy a multi-surface vacuum.

However, if you absolutely have to use a vacuum not designed for hardwood, be sure to remove the “beater bar”, which can damage the finish on the floor, and attach any brush attachments available to help kick up the dirt and grime.

3. USE THE RIGHT PRODUCTS WHEN MOPPING HARDWOOD FLOORS

After you’ve finished vacuuming or sweeping, you can use a mop to fully clean some of the higher traffic areas of your floor.

If using a traditional string mop, be sure to squeeze out as much moisture as you can. Using too much water can leave you in danger of having standing water, which can easily damage hardwood flooring.

Another option for mopping is a microfiber pad mop. Microfiber works to attract and trap dirt and grime and uses less moisture. Products like a Swiffer Wet Jet lets you spray out just as much liquid cleaner as you need.

As far as products go, it’s generally best to go with a cleaner designed for hardwood cleaning. These will be gentlest on your finish, produce the best shine, and clean up the messes generally found on wooden floors.

USE PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICES

If you have any doubts or want to be sure your floor is cleaned in the safest, quickest, and most effective way, it’s never a bad idea to go with a professional cleaning service. This will remove any doubt that your floor is as clean as it can be and is being taken care of in the right way.

Whether you’re prepping a home for sale or trying to make your office hardwood flooring look spick and span, The Heiser Group has got you covered. Send us a message to set up a free consultation today with one of our specialists.

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