.jpeg)
How to Clean Wood Floors
Anyone who has wood flooring of any description, be it engineered wood flooring or solid wood flooring knows it can easily accumulate dirt, dust and stains over time. Not only are these unsightly but can also be damaging to the wood, so it’s important you know the different ways to clean your flooring. You may also need to learn how to remove scratches from wood flooring.
If you’re looking into buying some wood flooring for your home but not sure what you want to go for, check out our buyers guide for wood flooring to give you all the information you need!
How to clean engineered wood floors
Cleaning engineered wood floors is relatively simple, but it’s very important you complete regular maintenance to keep your floor looking the best it can for as long as possible. Vacuuming and sweeping should be completed weekly, and wiping once or twice a month.
- We’d recommend sweeping your floor at least a couple of times a week to remove loose dirt, dust and general debris that will accumulate on the floor. Avoid stiff bristles as they can easily leave scratches in your floor and leave it looking worse for wear.
- Engineered wood flooring can be vacuumed carefully so long as it doesn’t have bristles on the bottom.
- Using a microfiber cloth to wipe over floors is best practice, though any gentle cloth or mop should do the trick. Whatever you use, make sure it’s slightly damp without being too wet and carefully wipe over your floor.
- To avoid stains and other damage, any spillages must be quickly cleaned up, as any liquids can absorb into the wood if left for too long.
Cleaning other wood flooring
Cleaning real wood flooring is very similar to engineered wood flooring, so should be treated similarly to the above. Maintenance is just as important, with regular sweeping and wiping required to keep its shine.
When you wipe over your wood flooring, you should invest in a specialist wood floor cleaner to do the best job, make sure to look up the best one to clean your specific type of flooring. Use as instructed on the product, which will generally be to spray onto the floor and wipe carefully. This shouldn’t leave any residue or excess cleaner on the floor and leave it with a shiny look!
Tip: Don’t use harsh chemicals or other cleaning products, as these can damage your flooring and cause more staining.
Searching for the perfect wood flooring?
Use our product finder to narrow down the options and find the best flooring for your project
How to polish wood floors
If you want to do an extra special job, you might want to learn how to polish your wood flooring. Most wood flooring can be polished with a special wood floor polish available from most flooring manufacturers or your local DIY store.
To restore your wood flooring to its former glory, the room first must be emptied and cleaned as described above. Once it’s dry, apply some polish to the first area of floor - you should only work with a small area of flooring at a time, as this allows you to easily keep track of what you’ve done and what you still need to cover. Apply as per the product instructions, and carefully spread around the floor.
Continue this process until you’ve covered the whole floor, and wait for it to dry until you apply another coat (if necessary). Once you’re happy with the result, don’t immediately move furniture back onto the floor, but leave for up to 24 hours.