Hardwood floors look amazing, but how do you know where to start with cleaning? There is a lot of bad information found online and we are here to help you learn what is fact and what is fiction.
All hardwood floors are the same: FICTION
Not all hardwood is created equal. Is it finished or unfinished? Solid or engineered? Different types of hardwood floors need different cleaners and techniques.
You can’t clean hardwood floors with water: FICTION and FACT
If your hardwood floors are unfinished, you cannot use water. Unfinished wood has a unique look, but is very difficult to clean. You can only sweep or vacuum as water can quickly cause the wood to warp.
Finished and engineered hardwood floors can be cleaned with water, but use it sparingly. You do not want to dump water on the floors as it can cause the wood to warp. At Eckler Cleaning Services, we use a flat mop with a spray so we have 100% control over the amount of water used to clean.
You can clean hardwood floors with vinegar: FICTION
Don’t do it. Wood needs a neutral pH balance or it can quickly become damaged. For solid wood floors, we recommend water with Murphy Oil soap or Zep Neutral floor cleaner mixed 64:1. You can even use water with a few drops of dawn dish soap. Engineered wood floors should not be cleaned with oil soap. Multipurpose cleaners are not acceptable for every surface in your home.
Using more cleaning solution makes your floors cleaner: FICTION
Most floor cleaners need to be diluted with water at a 64:1 ratio. This is ¼ cup of cleaner per gallon of water. Using more cleaning solutions will build a residue on your floors and can be very costly to fix.
Hardwood floors need regular cleaning: FACT
Your floors receive the most wear and tear in your home. Taking care of them can increase their life exponentially. Removing your shoes in the home, vacuuming, and mopping will keep your hardwood floors looking like new. At Eckler Cleaning Services, we recommend you clean your floors once a week.
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