How to Clean Hardwood Floors and Maintain Their Luster

Whether newly installed or over 100 years old, hardwood floors are the pride and joy of your home. On the other hand, learning how to clean hardwood floors requires a bit of care and consideration to avoid the dreaded scratches, stains, and—dare we say it—water damage. 

Thankfully, the job isn’t as tricky as it sounds. Once you find the best hardwood cleaners and tools for your unique floors, it's easy to get into a rhythm that will keep your floors as clean as the rest of your home.

Prepping to Clean Your Hardwood Floors

You—or whoever owned your house before you—invested a pretty penny in the cost of installing hardwood floors. Take some time to get to know the floors you're cleaning and whether they have any noticeable scratches, stains, or signs of damage. You'll want to take extra care around these areas and consider bringing in a hardware floor pro. 

Next, gather your cleaning supplies and choose a wood-safe cleaner for the job. What should you use to clean hardwood floors? There are plenty of store-bought commercial cleaners that do the job well. For the most part, avoid cleaners that do not specify hardwood floors or ones that promise to enhance the color or wax your floors. Simple is best. 

And while you can make a DIY floor cleaner, be wary of anything with an extreme pH such as vinegar to avoid damaging the finish. "The safest way to remove stuck-on dirt and grime from your hardwood floors is to utilize a non-abrasive, pH-neutral cleaning solution with a lightly damp string mop," says Asya Biddle, Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dust Busters janitorial company in Williamsport, PA. 

Always test a small inconspicuous area before cleaning the whole floor if you do. And remember: Hardwood floors are not quite the same as cleaning vinyl plank floors that simply resemble wood and require special care to avoid damage.

Tips for Keeping Your Hardwood Floors Clean

There's no need to perform this deep clean more than once or twice a week, depending on how much traffic goes through your home each day. Keep your hardwood floors clean in the meantime by doing the following:

• Sweeping up on a daily basis

• Removing your shoes just inside the door

• Cleaning your dog's paws after a walk

• Placing a trackpad outside your cat's litter box

• Vacuuming area rugs regularly

• Cleaning your floors after you clean higher areas throughout the room

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

There will always be a small learning curve when learning how to clean your hardwood floors. Still, you'll pay less than $25 for the cost of hardwood cleaning supplies, which is much lower than the average professional home cleaning cost of $170. 

That being said, hiring a local floor cleaner will take the guesswork out of cleaning hardwood properly, especially if you're concerned about having to refinish your hardwood floors sooner than you'd like.