Solid wood flooring is a beautiful, stylish and luxurious choice for the home. However, it’s notoriously known for being one of the harder flooring types to maintain. This is largely due to the fact it cannot be exposed to high levels of moisture and mopping over it can cause irreparable damage. The chemicals contained within standard cleaners can also be too harsh on the wood.
So how exactly do you keep a solid wood floor clean?
Well, despite the restrictions, it’s actually pretty simple. Below you’ll find out everything you need to know about how to clean your solid wood floor.
Damage prevention tips
Before we talk about how to clean solid wood flooring, let’s look at damage prevention. As with anything, it’s much better to prevent damage, than it is to try and clean or repair it! There are a few potential damages to be aware of, which include:
- Spills
- Grit and dirt
- Scratches and dents
- Warping
- Spills
Now you can’t always prevent spills, especially if you have young children and pets. However, it is essential you clean them up as quickly as possible. Have a spill emergency cleaning kit on hand. If it’s just water, all you need to do is wipe it away with either a slightly damp cloth or kitchen towels. It’s standing water that causes an issue so as long as any spills are wiped up quickly, it shouldn’t cause any long term damage.
Grit and dirt
Grit and dirt are one of the leading causes of damage to wooden floors. Placing a mat behind exterior doors to catch dirt off the bottom of shoes will really help to reduce this problem.
Scratches and dents
Another common type of damage to solid wood floors are scratches and dents. These can be caused by a number of factors. Dragging heavy furniture across the floor and walking over in the floor in heels can both cause scratches. You can buy special furniture pad protectors which go under the legs of heavy furniture, preventing damage to the floor. Another scratch and dent prevention tip is to never use a hoover with a beater bar attachment.
Warping
Finally, warping is another common type of damage you need to be aware of. Direct sunlight can cause the wood to fade, which is especially applicable in conservatories. Hard cleaners can also cause the wood to warp due to the harsh chemicals they contain. Installing sheer drapes to windows will prevent the sun’s rays damaging the wood, and keeping curtains drawn during times of direct sunlight will also help.
Cleaning advice
When it comes to cleaning solid wood flooring, you might be surprised just how easy it actually is. Taking a short amount of time out of each day will help to keep the floor looking as good as new for years. There are just three regular steps you’ll need to follow.
- Sweep the floor – A fine soft brush works best here. Simply sweep the floor once or twice a day to ensure dirt and grit doesn’t stain or damage the floor.
- Hoover – Hoover the floor to pick up loose dirt particles at least once a week. If you have the time, or if your home gets particularly busy, giving it a daily hoover is recommended.
- Dust – Invest in a specialist dust cleaner and apply to the floor with disposable electrostatic cloths.
These 3 steps are usually enough to keep solid wood floors sparkling. However, it’s also recommended you give it a deeper clean once a month with a specialist floor cleaner.
Overall when you actually look into how to clean hardwood floor, you’ll see it’s actually pretty simple. The most important thing is making sure you buy cleaners that are specifically designed for solid wood flooring. Always stick to specialised manufacturer cleaners where possible.
