Hardwood floors are tricky to clean without damaging their surface or finish. Therefore, care is required to do it well. Also, if your home is filled with pets, then pet dander or dust mites could be forming more regularly too.
Dust accumulates constantly. It can be problematic for people with breathing difficulties like asthma or COPD, or who are allergic to dust. Call a Toronto house cleaning company to Keep hardwood floors clean and make them safer to walk on too.
Tools of the Trade To Clean Hardwood Floors
A variety of tools of the trade are effective on hardwood floors. While these types of floors are quite durable, they typically either have a polyacrylic urethane or polyacrylic urethane coating that can be damaged when using the wrong tools. Also, the type of cleaning solutions used matters for the same reason too.
A broom or brush is excellent for removing grit, dirt, and food remnants from hardwood floors. The trick here is to only use ones with softer bristles to avoid scratching the floor’s protective surface. Also, nylon or similar material for the bristles is useful too – it does a better job of capturing what’s on the floor.
A mop with a detachable microfiber head is most effective. It can also be ‘hot swapped’ to another head when it’s become worn out. The head may also be washable too.
A standard vacuum cleaner can damage hardwood flooring. Many people choose not to vacuum them for this reason or only use a hand-held vacuum in troublesome spots. The best vacuum has soft bristles and a beater bar that can be retracted back inside the machine; this avoids creating new scratches while moving the vacuum over the floor.
A floor cleaner needs to be one that won’t damage the protective surface and be eco-friendly too.
Paper towels can mop up any excess liquid collecting in the corners.
Distilled water is also beneficial because it doesn’t have chemicals or minerals that could damage the wood.
Vacuum or Sweep the Floor Regularly
While vacuuming daily isn’t likely on the cards, sweeping up daily won’t require much time and is hassle-free.
Clean Up Spills Immediately
Do not allow spills to remain. They can discolor the protective coating or become sticky and difficult to remove with milder cleaning solutions designed to not damage the wood or its coating. This is a balancing act between preservation and effectiveness.
The worst culprits are darker in color because they hide easily on hardwood and tend to be more difficult to get out afterward.
Mop the Floor Each Week
Using the microfiber mop, run it over the hardwood floor each week.
Follow the natural direction of the grain. This lets the floor dry more evenly and prevents streaking. Use distilled water with the mop to prevent the minerals from dampening the natural shine of the wood.
A cleaning solution can be added to the distilled water or in spray form. It should be mixed correctly to avoid overusing it. If you do, excess cleaning solution leaves a sticky film over the floor.
Also, if you prefer non-commercial cleaning solutions, then mixing a little bit of white vinegar (distilled version) with distilled water will do the trick too. Open the windows afterward to let the smell disappear soon after.
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