This post is sponsored by Bona® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. Read my full disclosure policy here.
Learn the right way, and the right products to use, to clean hardwood floors. These tips will help you clean and care for your hardwood floors so they remain beautiful for years to come.
When we were house hunting, hardwood floors were on the top of our list of must-haves. There’s just something timelessly beautiful about wooden floors.
But like most new homeowners, we didn’t always know how to clean hardwood floors or the proper way to care for them to prevent damage.
That’s why I turned to Bona, the hardwood floor cleaning experts and manufacturers of true and true products for nearly 100 years.
I’m sharing some of their expert tips, plus a few of my own, for the best way to clean hardwood floors.
In between weekly vacuuming and mopping, use a microfiber mop.
A quick sweep with a broom or microfiber mop, will remove dust and dirt and protect your hardwood floors from scratches and other surface damage. You should aim to do this daily in high traffic areas, if possible. A microfiber mop is a better choice than a broom, which just moves dirt around.
Vacuum your floors weekly.
To keep hardwoods clean and in top shape, vacuum them weekly with the floor attachment. Never use the vacuum beater bar, which is meant for rugs, on hardwood floors. Don’t forget to vacuum in corners and hard-to-reach spaces, like under furniture, where dirt and dust may accumulate.
Mop your hardwood floors weekly with proper cleaners.
When it comes to cleaning hardwood floors, remember that water and wood don’t mix. You should avoid getting your hardwood floors too wet and instead use a microfiber mop in combination with a specially formulated cleaner, like Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
The Bona® Premium Spray Mop for Hardwood Floors is my go-to tool for cleaning the hardwoods throughout our house. It’s light and easy to use, and there’s no mess to deal with after I’m finished mopping.
And I know that Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is the best, safest way to clean hardwood floors. Water and vinegar can dull a floor’s finish over time, while wax and soap-based cleaners leave reside. And heat and water from steam cleaners can cause cupping and other long-term damage to hardwood floors.
Polish floors several times a year to refresh and protect them.
Several times a year, polish your floors to add a protective layer, fill in small scratches and add a durable shine. Bona has high gloss and low gloss hardwood floor polishes that you can use with your microfiber mop. This is so much easier than the old-school way of polishing floors with a bulky machine.
The beginning of a new season is a great time to polish your floors. Make it part of your spring, summer, fall and winter cleaning routines.
Add felt pads or floor protectors to chairs and other furniture.
Proper cleaning is just one part of caring for hardwood floors. You also want to take measures to protect hardwood floors from damage. One way is by adding felt pads or floor protectors to chairs and other furniture that sit directly on hardwood floors or come in contact with them.
We have hardwood floors in our kitchen and breakfast nook, and our floors are showing some damage near the table because we haven’t always used felt pads and gliders.
Use mats and rugs at entryways and other high-traffic areas to protect floors.
Hospitality isn’t the only reason to put out a welcome mat. Shoes track in a lot of dirt and grime, which can damage hardwood floors.
Place mats at every entryway and encourage kids and guests to use them. Just make sure that any mats, rugs or rug pads you use are designed for wood floors. Some rubber-backed mats can actually trap moisture and cause damage.
Consider having a No Shoes Allowed policy.
If you’ve ever visit a designer showhouse, you’ve probably been asked to leave your shoes at the door or slip on some protective booties. Many homeowners choose to have a “no shoes allowed” policy in their homes to prevent dirt from being tracked inside. Some types of shoes, like high heels and athletic cleats, can be damaging to floors.
If you decide to ask guests to leave their shoes at the door, it’s nice to provide them with slippers or socks so their tootsies stay cozy. Be mindful that some people have medical conditions that make going barefoot uncomfortable.
Rearrange your furniture and rugs regularly.
I always love an excuse to redecorate, and if you have hardwood floors, there’s good reason to do so.
Moving your furniture and rugs will ensure that your floors age evenly and that areas don’t become pitted from heavy furniture sitting on them.
Make sure your pets don’t ruin your floors.
Pet accidents are problematic on all types of flooring. Pets nails can also do damage to floors, so make sure they are properly trimmed. You also want to be careful about putting pet food and water bowls directly on hardwood flooring. Use mats under their bowls to protect floors from any spills.
Follow these tips for how to clean hardwood floors and they’ll remain beautiful for years to come.
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