Hardwood floors add elegance to any home. In fact, hardwood floors can increase your home’s value by 3-5%. This is because hardwood floors are stylish and durable, lasting several decades if you keep them up properly.
Unlike carpet and vinyl, hardwood floors are pretty easy to clean. However, most people struggle with choosing the right solution to clean their hardwood floors. Some even struggle with keeping their floors clean throughout the week. If you find yourself in either situation, then I’ve got the perfect guide for you.
Here’s how to clean hardwood floors the right way. Let’s start with the first step.
Step #1: Gather Your Supplies
The first step in learning how to clean hardwood floors is, of course, gathering the right supplies for the job.
To begin, you’re going to need all of the following:
- Dust mop or vacuum
- Bucket
- Vinegar
- Liquid castile soap
- Rags or sponges
- Dry towel
- Tea bags
- Box of crayons
- Hairdryer
I know all of these supplies are a bit of a bizarre pairing, but trust me, your hardwood floors are going to look amazing when you’re done.
Let’s move on to the next step on how to clean hardwood floors.
Step #2: Get Rid of Dust
Before you actually mop the floor, you’ll need to get rid of the dust and other particles on the surface.
If you don’t, then these particles will clump as you mop and make the hardwood floors even dirtier.
You can use a dust mop or vacuum cleaner to remove dust and other foreign particles from your hardwood floors. If you plan to use a vacuum cleaner, don’t use a vacuum with the beater-bar attachment.
A beater-bar can damage your floors. Instead, use a pure-suction vacuum or just a floor brush extension. There are plenty of vacuum products you can try. The one below is one of our favorites!
Anyway, you should use your tool of choice to wipe surface dirt and dust from your hardwood floors. Depending on the amount of foot traffic your floors receive, and if you have pets or children, you should do this at least once a week.
Step #3: Make Your Solution
Again, using a dust mop or vacuum isn’t going to deep clean your hardwood floors. The next step in how to clean hardwood floors is using a liquid cleaner.
It’s important to be careful using commercial hardwood cleaning products, as they may have additional chemicals that can damage your floors or leave behind residue.
For this exercise, we’re going to make our own cleaning solution using water, vinegar, and castile soap. Here are the steps:
- Grab your bucket.
- Pour one part of vinegar for every 10 parts of water. Depending on the surface area of your floor, this is the proportion you need to follow. For example, if you use one cup of vinegar, you’ll need to balance it with 10 cups of water.
- Add a few drops of castile soap for a pleasant smell.
Once you’re done, let’s move on to the next step in how to clean hardwood floors.
Step #4: Start Mopping
The process of how to clean hardwood floors isn’t difficult at all. Simply place your rag, sponge, or mop into the cleaning solution and wring it thoroughly until it’s damp.
Next, mop the floor using the cleaning solution. Keep in mind not to get the floor too wet, as a lot of water can actually damage your hardwood floors. Once you’re finished mopping, wring your mop out with clean water.
Finally, mop the floor again to remove the cleaner from the floor. This will protect your floors from water damage, eliminate stickiness, and destroy any residue. When you’re done, wipe the floor with a dry towel.
Alternative #1: Use Boiling Water and Tea Bags
This is a great alternative for how to clean hardwood floors if you want to add a glowing shine to them when you’re finished cleaning.
Here are all the steps you need to follow:
- Boil a pot of hot water.
- Place two tea bags into the boiling water.
- Take the tea bags from the boiling water after three minutes.
- Place a soft rag in the hot tea and wring it until it’s damp.
- Wash the floor with the rag until you see a glowing sheen.
And, voila!
You don’t even have to worry about your floors being sticky in the aftermath. The tannic acid in the tea helps hardwood floors retain a bright shine for a few days.
Step #5: Cover All Scratches
You may be frustrated after cleaning to notice scratches still in your floor. Here is a quick and effective remedy for getting rid of scratches on your hardwood floors:
- Open a box of crayons.
- Choose a crayon that matches the color of your floor.
- Take the crayon and rub it on the floor to fill in the scratches.
- Use a hair dryer where the crayon was applied to heat the area.
- Buff the area with a soft rag.
Once you’re done, the scratches will naturally disappear from your floor. This is a helpful remedy to follow if pets or wear and tear have damaged your floor in the past.
What Do You Think?
This guide will tell you all you need to know about how to clean your hardwood floors. So, now it’s back to you. What do you think about these steps? Do you have anything else to add?
