Helpful Tip Friday

Tips for Cleaning Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are beautiful and each one is unique.  However, while they're strong and durable, they do have some enemies:  scratches and water.  Here are some tips to keep your lovely hardwood floors clean and damage free.

1. Watch Your Finish
Always clean depending on your hardwood flooring's finish.  Some have a glossier, surface seal, or hard seal, from being finished with more modern methods of polyurethane, urethane, or a polyacrylic.  Others are finished with a softer, more traditional means of shellac, lacquer, or varnish.

2. General Cleaning
Keep your floors cleared daily, or dirt and debris that may cause scratches, by sweeping with a soft bristled broom.  For extra, weekly, cleaning, vacuum floor with a soft, floor brush attachment.

3. Deeper Cleaning
Every 6 months or so, try a wood cleaning product, following labeled instructions.  Rinse, if required, with a just damp sponge or mop.  Dry excess liquid to avoid standing water.

4. Stains on a Soft Finish
Tips from Better Homes and Garden
If your floors are finished with a soft finish, here are some additional tips for stains.  (If you have a hard finish, just clean and wipe with a damp cloth and dry).  Be prepared though, to stain, wax, and buff treated area to match the rest of the floor.

Dark Spots and Pet Stains:  Rub the spot with No. 000 steel wool and floor wax.
Heel Marks: Use fine steel wool to run in floor wax.
Oil Based Stains:  Rub the area with a soft cloth and dishwashing detergent to break down th
                            grease.  Rinse with clean water.
Water Marks or White Stains:  Rub the spot with No. 000 steel wool and floor wax.