How To Clean Hardwood Floor

How to clean hardwood floors? The process is really the same as it would be with any floor, with a few exceptions. There are hardwood floors sealed with polyurethane and hardwood floors finished with wax.  A good portion of hardwood floors today are sealed with polyurethane, which is a durable coating.  Waxed hardwood floors are more difficult to care for than polyurethane hardwood floors, because liquids can damage the floor easier.

Here are some things needed to clean hardwood floors:

• mop
• white vinegar
• warm water

1. Determine what type of hardwood floor you have. This will determine what solution you use to clean the hardwood floor.  For hardwood floors sealed with polyurethane, use quarter cup of white vinegar to one quart warm water.  For waxed floors you use just plain water.
2. Vacuum the dirt and grit off the hardwood floors.  Dirt and grit can cause damage to the floor by scratching it.  Always vacuum to remove the dirt, only mop the floor when all the dirt can't be removed with the vacuum.
3. Mop the hardwood floor using a mop that is only slightly damp.  Water should never saturate the surface of the hardwood floor.  If it does, it can sneak into cracks and under baseboards, causing the hardwood floor to expand and contract.
4. Whenever any liquid spills on the hardwood floor, clean it up immediately.  The longer the spill stays there the more likely it will cause damage to the hardwood floor and it will be harder to remove.  To clean a hardwood floor doesn't require a lot of work, just a little maintenance.