hand cleaning wooden flooring

How to Clean Your Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood flooring is one of the toughest types of floors you can invest in. Its multilayer construction gives it strength and stability that’s capable of withstanding high levels of wear and tear. However, as tough as it is, it still requires some maintenance to keep it looking and functioning as good as it should. So just how do you clean engineered wood flooring?

Flooring care tips from Best at Flooring

We know it can be confusing knowing how to clean engineered wood flooring. That’s why we’ve put together some helpful tips below. With a little know-how, you’ll find cleaning and maintaining engineered wood flooring is actually pretty simple.

Making sure you have the right equipment

In order to clean engineered wood flooring, you need to have the right cleaning supplies and equipment at your disposal. Everything you need is listed below:

  • A soft broom
  • Vacuum
  • Mop
  • Manufacturer recommended cleaner

The above will help you tackle everyday maintenance. It’s worth noting that regardless of which type of engineered wooden floor you invest in, you should never use vinegar or ammonia-based cleaners or a steam cleaner.

It also helps to know what type of finish the floor has. If it has an oiled surface, you’ll be better off using an oil and soap cleaner. If it’s a lacquered surface a wax and detergent product works best. However, it is always recommended you buy a specialist cleaner designed by the manufacturer of the floor you’ve purchased.

Protecting against marks and scratches

While one of the main benefits of engineered wooden floors is that they can be sanded down if damage does occur, obviously it’s better to prevent damage in the first place. Placing an entrance mat behind exterior doorways will help prevent dirt and debris getting onto the floor, thus avoiding potential scratches. Make sure the mat you use doesn’t have a rubber backing. If it does, it can cause moisture underneath which can damage the wooden floor.

If heavy furniture is to be placed on the floor, be sure to use furniture pads underneath the legs to avoid dents and scratches. You should also avoid walking over the floor in stilettos. Check out the 3 ways to protect your floor.

Finally sweeping up dust and debris daily with a soft broom will help to prevent minor scratches and marks. You can either eliminate this dust and debris by vacuuming it up, or by using a dustpan. It’s recommended you vacuum at least once a week, making sure it is on a hardwood setting and not used with a bristle brush bar which could damage the surface.

Protecting against spills and stains

Engineered wood flooring does typically come with a splash resistant surface due to its lacquered or oiled coating. However, it is not designed to withstand high levels of moisture. Water will seep through the cracks of the wood, as well as into the surface if it is left long enough. That’s why any spills should be wiped away as quickly as possible.

When you clean engineered wood flooring, it’s vital you don’t use too much moisture. So when mopping up a spill, make sure the mop is well wrung out. For light stains, a lightly damp cloth should suffice, but if your floor has an oiled finish, it would be worth using a soap or oil product to clean it rather than just water.

So if you’ve been wondering how to clean engineered wood flooring, the tips above will help to make it simple. With a little time and effort, you can make sure your brand new engineered wooden floor looks fantastic for many years.