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What you Can and Can’t Use to Clean Hardwood Floors by Extreme Floor Care.
Making sure you know how to properly clean a hardwood floor is essential to protecting the integrity of your floor in the long run.
Before we get into the products that you should use to clean their floors, let’s go over some…
…things that should never, ever touch a hardwood floor:
Wet mops: The #1 source of damage to finishes – Although people might think that sloshing a soaking wet mop back and forth over their floors is a good idea, this will actually ruin the finish and damage the wood itself. A mop that is used to clean hardwood floors should only be slightly damp.
Vinegar is good for cleaning many things, but not hardwood floors – White vinegar was once a popular product used to clean hardwood floors. And a quick Google search reveals that a lot of people still recommend using it. But vinegar should not be used as a hardwood floor cleaner because its acidity can lead to etching in the wood’s surface.
Avoid ammonia – Ammonia will discolor, deteriorate, and dull the finish. Using ammonia to clean a wood floor will take years off of its life.
Steam cleaners are bad news – You should only use steam cleaners on carpets and other surfaces that they are designed for. Using a steam cleaner on a hardwood floor can cause peeling, cracking, and cloudiness in the finish.
Popular cleaning products – Most of the cleaning products sold in grocery stores aren’t friendly to wood. They’ll damage the finish if used over a long period of time. Pair one of these products with a soaking wet mop and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
Approved cleaning products for hardwood floors
When it comes to long-term care and maintenance, make sure you are aware of what they should and shouldn’t use on their floors. A few good products to use during and after a hardwood floor installation or refinishing include:
Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner – For long-term maintenance, you should advise your clients to invest in a product like Bona’s Hardwood Floor Cleaning Spray. This product is designed for use on hardwood floors, so it’s wood and finish-friendly.
THE PRODUCT WE LIKE BEST IS SQUEAKY CLEAN : you can buy this on Amazon or at Coast Tile and Marble Supply on Fire Road in EHT, NJ
Basic Coatings Squeaky Clean – This product is designed to clean hardwood floors without damaging the finish. It’s a commercial-grade cleaner that’s safe to use on all wood and laminate floors.
NEVER USE A PRODUCT THAT HAS WAX OR SAY'S RENEW, RESTORE OR REJUVENATE.
Vacuum frequently to avoid buildup of debris that can scratch the floor’s finish. The benefits of putting mats and runners near any doors leading outside, especially during the winter months. Buying felt pads for the bottom of their furniture. Also remove high heels at entrances to prevent the creation of unsightly dents in their floors.
Flooring gaps are to be expected during the winter
Hardwood floors move. You clients should understand this.
Take special note that floors will likely contract in the winter due to the drop in relative humidity levels, possibly leading to gaps and squeaky floorboards.
The optimal relative humidity level for preventing flooring gaps is between 35 and 50 percent. But warn them that this is very difficult to maintain during the winter months, especially in the New England and mid-Atlantic regions, where a majority of the heating systems are forced hot air heat.
Once the moisture content and relative humidity rise again in the spring, any gaps in the floor should disappear as the planks expand back to their normal size.
For more information on how to properly clean a hardwood floor, or to find out more about any of the products discussed in this article or for hardwood floor refinishing or installation call us at Extreme Floor Care 609-272-9173.