I just bought a new home with beautiful hardwood floors. I have always lived in fully carpeted homes, so I would like some advice on how to clean and maintain them properly. This could be anywhere from day to day upkeep to anything that ma need to be done monthly to annually. Thank you in advance!
DO NOT USE ORANGE GLOW! If you need to wet mop use ammonia and water really drain mop. Pledge makes and acrylic over coat after you mop (which is few and far between) use the pledge makes them shiny again and puts down a protective layer.
I use the Swiffer Wet Jet for hardwood floors on mine...
I have a Hoover Linx vacuum that I use on mine daily...I have a dog and two boys...
Are they hardwood or laminate?
If they are hardwood? I would find out the last time they were refinished and with what...so that you don't use the wrong product to destroy the finish.
Both Laminates and hardwoods will lose their shine over time if not "polished" every once in a while...you can buy the polish at your grocery store or at Home Depot...I would do it once a quarter or twice a year depending upon the wear and tear on them....
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my hardwoods!! So much easier to clean...I don't have to worry about mold growing under the carpet or under the padding...remember water and hardwood don't work well together...so if you spill a liquid...clean it up fast...
HAVE FUN!!
There are different types of hardwood floors that require different kinds of care. You really need to find out first what kind you have. My mother-in-law has hardwood floors that were installed, sanded and finished with Johnson Wax. Other people have hardwood floors that were installed, sanded and then covered with a liquid sealant or shellac. The kind I have in my house was already sanded and shellaced before installation. All three kinds require different care and products for cleaning. Have an expert come to your house and determine what kind you have before you clean it incorrectly and ruin the floor.
I have a shark stick vac a must for hardwood or a mix like I have. I have a mix of surfaces but no carpet.
The other thing is if possible just clean up spills right away. First wood doesn't like water but also it doesn't like deep cleaning very often so if you keep it from getting dirty it has a longer life.
I try to vacuum every other day.
I sweep daily and I use the shark steam mop once a week. It works great!
A gentle, non-toxic household cleaner--Basic H2. Many have switched from other cleaners to Basic H2. There are many other uses for this product. Too many to list. For more information go to mamabear.myshaklee.com and do a search on Basic H2
I vacuum and then use the steam mop. Works great!
We have friends who built a home about 10 years ago. The company that did the sealing/coating process, suggested windex.
If you want to avoid the chemicals in "wet jet" products, just use very warm water mixed with white vinegar -- more vinegar for stubborn stuck-on stuff and less to none for maintenance cleaning. Then an occasional clean with a chemical product (I use Swiffer wet pads, not the wet jet, which I find shoots its stuff all over the skirts of my couches, feet of the coffee table, etc.).
Always use minimal liquids to clean, and always dry floors after cleaning. Wood hates water.
I hope you love your floors. I would never, ever go back to carpet after we had ours pulled out and the hardwood refinished. You can get hardwood much cleaner, much more easily, than you can carpet and pad, and spills clean up so easily, and there are no stains!
You can vacumn or sweep n they have swifter wet jet for hard wood floors you can use or a steam mop or a dap regular mop. Never soak the hard wood with water. Never leave the steam mop to cool or even stand on hard wood too. Only use the steam mop to clean it lol! Wood floors are louder. You may want an area carpet to help. It's an adjustment chilli n loud. I like them but some dont
