Hardwood flooring can be a beautiful addition to any home. Having said that, it is important to understand how to properly take care of a your floor. You may wonder, how can you best clean them? Additionally, what should you avoid doing? Let us discuss these points to make sure you make the best decision when it comes to your hardwood.
How is a Cleaning Performed?
First, a deep dusting and sweeping of the floors is needed. Then, a cleaning mixture is used to mop and scrub the flooring. After that, the floors are dried with a clean cloth or dry mop. Finally, a protective finish is applied to help ward against everyday damage while adding a layer of durability to your floors. The result is a beautiful hardwood floor that shines!
Tips and Tricks
First, make sure to sweep and vacuum regularly. Additionally, put protectors on all furniture to prevent scrapes. Finally, make sure to never steam clean hardwood. Complete Detail would be happy to provide you with maintenance tips. Once our professionals clean your flooring, we give advice on how to keep them looking great!
The Complete Detail Difference
- Free Hardwood Floor Cleaning Estimates
- Licensed & Insured
- 24/7 Emergency Hardwood Floor Cleaning Availability
- Family Owned & Operated
- IICRC Certified & Insured
- We Work with Insurance
- Initial Response Under 60 Minutes
- Commercial & Residential Hardwood Floor Cleaning
Personalize Your Hardwood Floor Care
Every hardwood floor is different, and that is one of the reasons why they are such a unique and beautiful part of a home. However, since all hardwood floors are not created equal, there is a specific way to clean your floor. It is true that some guidelines can be applied generally to most hardwood, it is always a good idea to take your specific wood type into consideration. For example, your specific hardwood may require special care or a certain finish. Therefore, it is a good idea to check with the manufacturer if you aren’t sure.
Floor Protection
One thing that is universal for hardwood flooring is wanted to protect it. Therefore, it is important to follow the advice to use floor protection. Putting furniture coasters saves your floor from being scratched up whenever you need to move that big sofa or armchair. The nice thing is, furniture coasters are cheap! You can buy an entire pack full of different sizes for a few dollars. If you want to protect your floor from furniture, felt furniture protectors are the way to go!
Hardwood Floor Cleaning Tools
Now that you understand the need to know your hardwood floor type, and to protect it from furniture, let’s discuss what to clean it with. Many ads may confuse you about what works and what may actually end up harming your floors protective coating. Let’s end the confusion by discussing what vacuums, brooms, mops and cleaning products work.
Vacuums
Most people gravitate toward vacuuming because it’s the easiest method. After only a few minutes, visible dirt and debris are off your floor and you can move on. However, be sure to only use a vacuum designed to clean hard surfaces. Most vacuums produced these days can vacuum both hard and carpeted surfaces. This versatility makes it a nice item to have around
Make sure to buy a vacuum that has good suction (I suggest reading reviews online before purchasing). In addition, it should be lightweight with a beater bar that is either adjustable or removable. Also, inspect the wheels to make sure they won’t scratch the floor. Most people find they are happy with canister vacuums, cordless tick and lightweight upright vacuums that come with attachments.
In recent years, many have purchased a Roomba, or an automatic vacuum. If you have pets, however, a word of caution. It has been reported that some have come home to their pet’s accident spread all throughout the home. The Roomba sees something that needs picked up, so it goes for it! The gross reality though, is a stinking nightmare that you must clean up when you get home from work. If you don’t have pets, you may love it!
Brooms
Brooms are such a handy tool to always have on hand. There is nothing wrong with a simple, old fashioned bristle broom. However, many other cleaning tools are even better and more efficient. For example, microfiber dust mops are perfect for cleaning and dusting a hardwood floor. These replace a standard bristle broom and come with a flat head attached with a microfiber cloth. Some brands are disposable while others you can throw into the washing machine and use again. These dust mops are such a nice option because they attract dirt rather than flinging it up into the air or pushing it around your floor. Once you’ve finished, you may still have a pile of dirt and the need for a dustpan.
Mops
The need will arise at some point to wet mop your floor because of a spill. Here, again, the microfiber dust mop is your best friend. A microfiber mop doesn’t hold as much moisture as a traditional mop head so your wood flooring will not become saturated. Additionally, like your dust head, a microfiber mop attracts dirt instead of just pushing it around, so the result will be a clean you are satisfied with!
Hardwood Cleaning Products
Most of the time, you may only need a small amount of water to clean your hardwood floors (especially if you have a microfiber mop). A word of caution though, if your floors are finished with wax, oil, or Monocoat, avoid using water. Manufacturers make their own cleaners for these finishes, which should only be used as directed. If you are using any amount of water to clean your floor, it’s important to consider the type of water you are using. Often, distilled water is always the safest bet. Hard water from wells, chlorinated city water, or tap water treated with softeners can cause damage by making mineral deposits and discoloration. This can be difficult to remove without completely refinishing your floor.
Since there are so many cleaning products on the market, it is difficult to decide which is best for you. Most products will promise something like “sparkling new floors”, but what is really needed to provide the best clean?There are a few tips you should always keep in mind before buying a hardwood floor cleaner. For example, make sure it is a cleaner with a neutral pH level. This means you will have to read labels carefully. It is also a good idea to do research on a certain brand of cleaner or even ask your manufacturer what cleaning solutions they recommend, if you find yourself really stuck.
Don’t Get Overwhelmed
You may think, after reading what all is required, that maintaining hardwood floors will be a full time job. Don’t get overwhelmed. Once you find the right tools for your specific flooring, it is pretty much spot cleaning, regular deep cleaning, and of course regular cleaning from a professional. If you have any questions, our professionals at Complete Detail are always here to help.
How Much Does Hardwood Floor Cleaning Cost?
Hardwood cleaning prices average about $.20 per square foot. However, there is usually a minimum service call price. This minimum price can be around $75- $100 depending on the company used. This may seem like a lot if you are getting a small area cleaned. However, remember the company you are hiring needs to pay for labor costs and gas to get to your home.
Call Now & Speak With Us!
Contact Complete Detail today to ask about hardwood floor cleaning. We would love to answer any questions you have! Feel free to reach us at (937) 507-2927.
