Overview
In this blog post, we will discuss how to clean prefinished hardwood floors. Although the increasing use of cement as a floor in many homes today, hardwood flooring is a choice, and prefinished wood floor is a homeowner’s favorite choice. It’s long-lasting, sturdy, and appealing to the eye. Its classic design and shining polish make any area appear natural and friendly.
However, keep in mind that the hardwood flooring in your home must deal with many kinds of everyday challenges, including heat, wetness, and dust, which may lead to a decline in quality. Hardwood flooring requires constant upkeep.
There are many things you can do to keep your hardwood floor in good condition, from everyday to weekly cleaning, monthly cleaning to yearly cleaning. Hardwood floors that are properly maintained endure longer and need less cleaning than those that are not. Always clean in the correct order, using the correct tools, and with proper cleaning techniques.
Don’t worry, they’re not as hard even though they seem! Here’s an easy-to-follow guide on cleaning your prefinished hardwood floors and keeping their sheen over time.
Explaining What Do Prefinished Hardwood Floors Mean?
Due to their longevity and ease of use, prefinished hardwood floors are becoming more and more popular in homes and businesses. Unlike regular hardwood flooring, prefinished hardwood flooring has a protected layer of finish added at the factory before it is installed. This saves time and money during the installation process. Prefinished hardwood floors come in many different types of wood, finishes, and sizes of planks, so they can be used in a wide range of design styles.
Prefinished hardwood floors can have anything from a simple urethane covering to more advanced finishes that make the floor more durable and resistant to scratches, dings, and water. One of the best things about prefinished hardwood floors is that they can be used right away after they are put in. After fitting, there is no need to wait for the finish to dry or add more coats of finish. This saves both time and money.
Why Regular Cleaning is Essential for Maintaining Prefinished Hardwood Floors
For prefinished hardwood floors to look nice and last as long as possible, they must be cleaned properly. Here are some explanations:
- Keep the finish that protects.
- At the mill, a protected layer of finish is put on prefinished hardwood floors to help them stay scratch-, scuff-, and stain-free.
- Proper cleaning can help keep this finish in good shape, which is important to keep the wood underneath from getting damaged.Â
Keep Hardwood Floors Good
To keep prefinished hardwood floors looking their best, they need to be cleaned often. Dirt, dust, and grime can make the finish look dull, making the floor look old and dirty. With proper cleaning, the shine and sheen of the finish can be brought back, making your floors look as good as new.
Keep Prevent safe from damage
Proper cleaning can help protect the finish and keep the hardwood from getting damaged. Water and other liquids can get into the seams between the planks of hardwood flooring, causing the wood to bend, break, or get stained. If you use the wrong cleaning products or methods, you can also scratch or fade the wood.
How To Clean Prefinished Hardwood Floors Regularly
Cleaning prefinished hardwood floors regularly is essential to maintain their appearance and prolong their lifespan. Here are the steps you can follow to clean prefinished hardwood floors regularly:
Sweep or vacuum the floor:
Use a soft-bristled broom or a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt, dust, and debris from the floor. Avoid using a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar, as it can scratch the floor.
Mop the floor:Â
Use a damp mop or microfiber mop to clean the floor. Avoid using excessive water as it can damage the wood. Use a hardwood floor cleaner that is recommended by the manufacturer or one that is specifically designed for prefinished hardwood floors.
Wipe spills immediately:Â
Wipe up spills as soon as they happen to prevent water damage and stains.
Use doormats:Â
Place doormats at the entrance to prevent dirt and debris from being tracked onto the floor.
Avoid high heels:Â
High heels and other hard-soled shoes can scratch the floor, so ask guests to remove them or provide shoe covers.
Trim pet nails:Â
Keep your pet’s nails trimmed to prevent scratches on the floor.
Use furniture pads:
Place furniture pads under furniture legs to prevent scratches and dents.
Use a humidifier:Â
In dry weather, use a humidifier to maintain a proper level of moisture in the air and prevent the floor from drying out and cracking.
How To Clean Prefinished Hardwood Floors Weekly
Clean free particles and dirt from your hardwood floors on a regular basis. This keeps your floors from cracking and will keep floor chemicals from settling in your hardwood over time. You should sweep or use a dust brush on a weekly basis to do this. If you must use a sweeper, choose a brush with soft bristles rather than a hard brush to avoid scratching.
If you must dust brush your floors, we recommend employing a tiny fiber dust mop rather than a cotton dirt brush. This is due to the fact that microfibre is positively charged, drawing charged dust like a magnet! We have cotton dust mops in a range of sizes.Â
Clear Dirt and Trash
Use a soft-bristled broom or a vacuum with a wooden floor tool to get rid of any fine dirt, dust, or other debris on the floor. Be careful not to use a cleaner with a cutting bar on wooden floors, as this can scratch or damage the shine.
Clean the floor
To make sure you can clean the whole floor, move any furniture or other things that are in the way. You might also want to put down a drop cloth or plastic sheeting to protect nearby surfaces from any cleaning solution or water that could drip or spray.
Try the cleaner
Before you use a cleaning product on your prefinished hardwood floors, test it in a small, hidden area to make sure it won’t damage or darken the wood.
Put a small amount of the solution on the test area and wait a few minutes to see if there are any bad effects. If everything looks good in the test area, you can clean the rest of the floor.
How To Clean Prefinished Hardwood Floors Deeply
Spray cleaning your hardwood floors once a month will provide additional cleaning. This will remove any additional rubbish and dirt.Â
The following are the most important factors to keep in mind while dry mopping:
- Do not wet your flooring, since this might harm them and/or increase the possibility of dirt.
- Only use detergents that have been suggested by the supplier.
- When mopping, use the “leading edge cleaning” technique.
- Basically, you go backward throughout the room, working the mop from side to side, pulling the handle to spin the brush in a figure-8 motion.
Additional Tips and Tricks for Achieving a Pristine Finish
As a result of the above, we suggest you use a tiny fiber round brush. Because fiber is highly weak, the mop pads are exceptionally simple to clean and dry out, using little water. In addition, silk round sweeps are thin, allowing you to clean your floors quickly and with fewer stains.
Clean the floor or Tears
Before you start to deep clean, move any furniture, rugs, or other things that are on the floor. This will make it easy to clean the whole floor and keep it from getting scratched or damaged. To clean the floor, use a broom with soft bristles or a vacuum with a soft brush attachment. During the deep cleaning process, this will keep any rough bits from hurting the hardwood.
Wash With Water and Keep Dry
Once the whole floor has been cleaned, rinse it with clean water. Use a clean mop or towel to get rid of any cleaning solution left behind. Dry the floor with a clean, dry cloth or towel to get rid of any extra water. Moisture can cause the lumber to bend, cup, or even buckle. Make sure the floor is totally dry before you walk on it or put furniture back on it.
Apply Polish to Keep Clean the Floor
Lastly, you can use a wooden floor polish to bring back the shine and keep the surface from getting damaged again. Follow the advice on how to use it and how long it needs to dry. It’s important to remember that not all prefinished hardwood floors need to be cleaned. Before adding shine, check with the maker.
FAQ’s
What kind of cleaner can be used on finished wood?
Mix water and cleaning soap to make a weak solution. Put the solution on a soft cloth, wring it out, and wipe the whole piece. You want a cloth that is damp, not wet. Don’t let the wood get too wet, and rinse your rag often.
Can you damp mop prefinished hardwood floors?
Yes, you can wet and clean prefinished hardwood floors, but you must be careful not to damage the finish. Heavy water or strong chemicals may cause wood to expand, blur, or color. It is best to use a wet broom with a cleaning solution created particularly for prefinished hardwood floors and to avoid using steam mops or polishing tools. Releases and spots should also be cleaned up as soon as possible to prevent them from penetrating the wood.
Is it OK to clean wood floors with water?
It is generally not recommended to clean wood floors with water because excess moisture can damage the wood. When wood absorbs water, it can swell, warp, or develop stains, which can lead to costly repairs. Here are some tips to safely clean wood floors with water:
- Use a damp mop, not a soaking wet mop. Wring out excess water from the mop before cleaning the floor.
- Avoid using excessive amounts of water or cleaning solutions that contain harsh chemicals. Instead, use a cleaning solution specifically formulated for wood floors.
- Clean up spills and stains as soon as possible to prevent the wood from absorbing water.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cleaning wood floors with water can be risky because excess moisture can damage the wood. However, it is possible to clean wood floors with water if proper precautions are taken, such as using a damp mop, avoiding excessive water and harsh chemicals, and cleaning up spills promptly. It’s also important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning and maintaining your specific type of wood floor to ensure its longevity.