Care guide 1 min read

How to Clean Wood Flooring Properly

The routine that keeps a wood floor looking new, and the common cleaning habits that quietly damage one.

Do most often

Sweep or vacuum

Mop

Barely damp, never wet

Never

Steam or standing water

Cleaner

Matched to your finish

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One principle, then the detail

Cleaning a wood floor well is mostly about removing grit and using as little water as possible. Everything else follows from those two ideas.

Grit is what causes wear, so sweeping is the job that matters most and the one people do least. Water is what causes damage, so the mop should be far drier than feels natural.

Rule of thumb: Sweep often and mop rarely. Most floors that look tired have been mopped too much and swept too little.

The routine

Short and frequent beats long and occasional.

Sweep or vacuum first, always

Use a soft brush head or a hard floor setting. A beater bar will mark the surface.

Mix the cleaner as directed

More product is not better. Excess leaves a film that attracts dirt and dulls the finish.

Wring the mop until it is barely damp

It should leave a film that dries within seconds, not a visible wet trail.

Work with the boards

Along the length rather than across. It follows the grain and leaves fewer streaks.

Let it dry properly

If the floor is still wet a minute later, there was too much water on the mop.

What to avoid

Each of these is common and each one shortens the life of a floor.

Steam mops

Steam drives moisture into the joints under pressure. Avoid unless the manufacturer specifically allows it.

General household cleaners

Detergents and anything alkaline strip an oiled finish and leave residue on a lacquered one.

Wax and polish on lacquer

It builds up, dulls unevenly, and has to be stripped before the floor can ever be recoated.

A soaking wet mop

The single most common cause of open joints in an otherwise healthy floor.

Important: Water damage is not covered by the structural warranty. Neither is surface wear from grit. Both are prevented by the routine above.

Spills and marks

Speed matters more than technique.

Any liquid

Wipe immediately. Time is what turns a spill into a mark.

Grease

A cleaner made for your finish, not washing up liquid.

Scuff from a shoe

Usually lifts with the correct cleaner and a soft cloth.

Scratch

Repairable in place on an oiled floor. On a lacquered floor it is a recoat by area.

Which finish do you have?

Oiled and lacquered floors need different products. Using the wrong one strips an oil or leaves a film on a lacquer.

Oiled wood care Lacquered wood care

Care guide Wood Flooring Care Guide Care guide Oiled Wood Care Guide Care guide Lacquered Wood Care Guide

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