Tools and Materials
Do I Need to Deep Clean Wood Floors?
Even if you're diligent about your everyday care for hardwood floors, it’s a good idea to deep clean your floors on occasion. Wood floors can begin to look dingy over time as a buildup of grime dulls their shine.
The best way to clean wood floors depends on the type of finish they have.
Before you use a cleaner for the first time, check the product instructions carefully to ensure it's suitable for your floor. You should also review any manufacturer's instructions that came with your flooring for additional cleaning tips and cautions.
Surface Finish
A surface finish is a protective, waterproof barrier that causes liquids to pool on the surface rather than seeping into the wood. The most common types of residential floor finishes include polyurethane and water-based or moisture-cured urethane. The finish is applied on top of stained wood floors to give them either a glossy, semi-gloss or satin look. This finish is popular because it makes floors more durable and easier to maintain.
Penetrating Finish
Also known as oil finishes, penetrating finishes are absorbed by the wood. The finish penetrates deep into the wood’s fibers with the goal of oxidizing and hardening it from the inside out. These types of floors tend to be coated with a layer of floor wax for additional surface protection. The wax and the oil finish will not completely seal the surface of the wood, so liquid can still seep in and cause damage. When moisture makes its way into wood floors, it causes the planks to expand and warp. Penetrating finishes are uncommon in modern homes, but they were the only option for wood floors prior to the 1920s. If your home was built prior to the 1920s and still has some of its original wood flooring, then it's likely that the planks have a penetrating finish.
How to Find Out What Finish Your Floors Have
There are two common ways to find out what finish your floors have if you aren’t sure. You can pour a small amount of water onto the planks and see how it reacts before quickly wiping it away. If the water pools, you’re probably working with a surface finish. If the planks begin to absorb the water, they likely have a penetrating finish.
If you’d rather not test your floors’ finish with water, you can take a sharp knife and gently scrape a tiny amount of the finish from a section of flooring that is hidden from view. If the material you scrape off the floor is clear, it’s probably a surface finish. If scraping the finish smudges it but no material actually comes off the floor, then it’s probably a penetrating finish.
Choose the Best Cleaning Solution for Your Hardwood’s Finish
It’s safe to use water-based cleaning solutions on hardwood floors with a surface finish. Still, you'll want to ensure that you’re using a hardwood floor cleaner that's specifically made for hardwood floors. Trying to mix your own cleaning solution for wood can be risky. The acidity in most homemade cleaning solutions that use components like white vinegar will break down the surface finish, eventually allowing moisture to seep into the wood. Just because a wood floor cleaner is water-based doesn’t mean that using a lot of water on your hardwoods is safe.
For floors with penetrating finishes, you should only use pH-neutral cleaners that are specifically designed for these types of floors. Avoid water-based cleaners entirely because your floor will absorb them. Some brands make cleansers for all different kinds of wood floor finishes.
Deep Cleaning Your Hardwood Floors
When deep cleaning any type of hardwood flooring, it’s important to remove surface dirt and debris before wet mopping. Use a broom, dry dust mop or vacuum cleaner to clear away dust and particles. If you do decide to use a vacuum, use a model or attachment that's suitable for use on hardwood floors and doesn't have a beater bar.
After you remove surface debris, you can mop your hardwood floors with the appropriate cleanser. Hardwood floor cleaners don't need to be mixed with water before use. The best way to apply the cleanser to your floors is with a spray bottle. This will limit the amount of moisture that comes in contact with your floors, no matter what their finish is. Once you’ve sprayed the cleaner on your floor, wipe it away immediately with your mop. Choose a mop with a soft microfiber head that will be gentle on your floors and attract dust and dirt. Always mop in the direction of the floorboards to prevent streaking and to allow the mop to pick up any debris caught between planks.
Is It Safe to Use a Steam Mop on Hardwood Floors?
Using a steam mop for hardwood floors can be done safely by following a few precautions. Steaming a hardwood floor should be done as a complimentary addition to your regular maintenance of sweeping, vacuuming and mopping. It is important that your hardwood floors be sealed against moisture before attempting a steam mop hardwood floor task. You can test the seal by dropping a small amount of water on the floor. If it beads up, then your floors should be sufficiently sealed to continue.
With a clean pad on your steam mop, fill it up with clean water and plug it in. Set the mop to the lightest steam level and wait for it to heat up. When it has reached operating temperature, move the mop back and forth at a constant and moderate speed, avoiding lingering or resting in one spot. Making multiple light passes are better than slower ones. Be sure to flip the pad if one side becomes dirty.
Keep Your Floors Looking New
To truly return your floors to their original glory, refinish them every three to five years. Surface finish floors with minimal signs of wear and tear can be rejuvenated with a coat of revitalizer gloss. For floors that need a more intensive refinish but don’t necessarily need to be sanded down just yet, use a chemical abrasion kit to etch the original finish and then give it a fresh coat of polyurethane or urethane finish.
If your floors have a penetrating finish, strip away the old, dirty wax first and then reapply a new layer. Saturate a cloth in mineral spirits and rub it over 2-foot sections of your flooring. Let the mineral spirits sit for five minutes and wipe them away with a fresh, slightly damp cloth. Then dry thoroughly. Use a cloth or an electric polisher to buff a new layer of solvent-based hardwood floor wax into the floors, also working in 2-foot sections.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any floor-care products, cleaning products or other chemicals, including guidelines regarding the use of proper safety gear.