THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORS

Updated July 2023 | Cleaning Tips, Innovation

Wood floors bring a warm, earthy beauty to your home. They are durable and with proper care, can last for decades. However, wood floors can be a major investment and simultaneously can take a beating. We walk on them, children run on them, family pets track dirt and mud on them, yet we still want them to sparkle and shine like the day we had them installed. So, how do you clean hardwood floors, step by step? To keep them looking lovely, here is the best way to clean wood floors!

STEP #1: Dust Wood Floors

Use an indoor broom and dustpan or a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust, dirt and debris that has piled up on your wood floors.

The PowerCorner® Pet Pro Broom is a quick and easy way to dust your wood floors. Its patented V-trim bristles are designed to clean the never-ending pet hair in a single sweep. The One Sweep broom is another option to seamlessly dust your wood floors. Its patented new wave technology was engineered to impressively capture over 99% of dirt and dust in one sweep. It was even designed with angled bristles to get those hard-to-clean corners.

If you choose to use a vacuum, avoid using a beater bar attachment as it could potentially damage the surface of your wood floor. Instead, opt for another vacuum attachment such as a floor-brush. Depending on how much foot traffic your wood floors get, this is a good cleaning practice to do at least once a week or more if needed.

STEP #2: Use a Hard Floor Cleaner

Dusting wood floors won’t remove all the layers of dirt and grime that build up over time. To get your wood floors shining like new again, sometimes, you need to deep clean hardwood floors.

When deep cleaning hardwood floors, we recommend new O-Cedar^® PACS hard floor cleaner. To use PACS, take a bucket and mix together 1½ gallons of warm water, then drop in a perfectly portioned O-Cedar^® PAC. PACS are designed to use with our O-Cedar mopping systems but any wood floor mop and bucket will work, too. The easy-to-use O-Cedar^® PACS cleaner is made with 97% naturally-derived ingredients that are formulated with deep cleaning enzyme power. That makes it extra safe to use on hardwood floors and little feet and paw friendly.

STEP #3: Clean Wood Floors - The Traditional Way

According to the National Wood Floor Association (NWFA), maintaining your wood floors is very easy. After you sweep or mop your hardwood floors, you can vacuum your hardwood floors with the beater bar turned off. This additional step will remove any dirt and grit that may be lodged between floorboards.

What should you not put on a hardwood floor? Avoid using steam mops as excessive water and steam can dull hardwood floors over time. If wood floors begin to lose their luster, use a wood floor cleaner recommended by the floor installer. This will help your beloved hardwood floors look good as new.

STEP #4: Clean Wood Floors - Between Deep Cleans

When you’re looking for a quick way to spot clean your floors between the deep cleans, the O-Cedar ProMist® MAX Microfiber Spray Mop is a nearly effortless solution. The 180° dual-sided mop head lets you clean your floors fast. The microfiber mop pad is reusable and machine washable.

Be sure to stock up on extra mop refills so you're ready for any mess. Safe to use on all hard floor surfaces, the ProMist® MAX can be used on hardwood, tile, vinyl, laminate, ceramic, marble or stone surfaces.

STEP #5: Cover Scratches

Covering and concealing scratches that remain after dry and wet mopping is all part of the cleaning process. Take a crayon that is the color of your wood floor and rub it on the scratch to fill in the scratch or gap. If you don’t have crayons on hand, you can visit your local hardware store and ask a flooring expert to help you pick out a wood crayon specifically designed for filling in wood floor scratches. Be sure to bring in a sample or picture of your wood floors so you can make an exact color match!

After you fill in the gap with your wood crayon, turn a blow dryer on high and use it to heat the area where you applied the crayon. Lastly, buff the area with a soft cloth.

STEP #6: Preventative Protection

Prevent dirt build-up and further damage to your newly cleaned wood floors. Place mats inside doorways and also on the outside of doors to diminish the potential for tracking in any dirt and moisture. Avoid scuffs and scratches by placing floor protectors under furniture or by using floor runners and large area rugs in high-traffic areas like hallways and living rooms.

Using these easy steps and knowing the best way to clean wood floors will keep your family’s wood floors looking beautiful for years to come!