How Clean is Your Floor? Hard Wood 101
That special care depends upon the material of your floor. If you’re not careful and following the advice of the manufacturer, you could be damaging them with every swipe of a soaking wet mop. Here are some tips on getting your floors, all types of floors, clean in the simplest and safest way possible.
Hard Wood 101
If you have oak, cherry, hickory, walnut, or maple floors, then you have hardwood flooring. Taking care of hardwood floors is not that difficult but you need to still be cautious not to damage them. It is a good idea to sweep them first and then vacuum. It is important to vacuum wood floors to not only remove debris that can cause scratches when underfoot but to also extend the wood’s luster and shine. When vacuuming, be sure to use the bare floor setting on your vacuum or the hardwood floor brush attachment. The vacuum’s beater bar can ruin your wood floors and dull the finish at the very least. Follow the manufactures advice on cleaning products that are safe to use. You do not want to age your wood floors before their time by choosing the wrong products. Wood and water do not mix so if you really need to wet-clean your floor, use a damp mop and dry it right away with a clean towel. Be sure to clean up spills immediately and dry the floor with a towel or microfiber cloth.