Most homeowners can expect to pay between $1.00 and $2.50 per square foot to hire a professional to buff and polish hardwood floors. Adding additional coats of polish will cost an extra $0.50 to $1.75 per square foot. Keep in mind that buffing and polishing expenses are more cost-effective than refinishing hardwood floors, ranging from $1.50 to $7 per square foot.

You should aim to hire a professional floor cleaner once or twice per year to remove any set-in stains, resolve scratches, and make your floors look shiny and new again. If you have a bustling household with many children, pets, or severe allergies, having your floors cleaned four times per year is worth the investment to maintain the integrity of your flooring. Don’t forget to prioritize cleaning your floors yourself in between professional cleanings, too.

You should hire a flooring professional polish hardwood floors once per year. This annual schedule will help keep any surface scratches from getting more profound and restore a shine to your floor. However, if you have a high-trafficked home with excess dirt and debris, you might consider twice-yearly polishing to help it stay fresh. In between professional cleanings, stay on top of weekly floor cleanings and scratch-resolving to maintain the floor’s integrity.

The cost for professional floor cleaning is $250 on average. This cost can range from $100 to $1,500, depending on the type of flooring and its square footage. 

For example, natural stone flooring requires specialized techniques and care, so you'll spend closer to the higher end of the cost range. The cost of cleaning tile and grout is more cost-effective, where you'll pay an average of $0.50 to $3.50 per square foot.

There are a few tips to keep your floors clean to help keep them looking sparkling until your next professional visit. Sweeping and vacuuming regularly will help reduce the dirt, debris, and pet hair from accumulating. 

Placing doormats at every entrance will help keep some of the dirt outside, helping to minimize the dirt that ends up on your floors. In addition, using the correct stain-removing methods for your floor type will help properly remove them without damaging your floors.