How I clean my hardwood floors

Cleaning hardwood floors can be difficult sometimes. The newer the wood, and the shiner, in terms of the finish on the wood is generally easier to clean than hardwood floors that are years old and thus, have wear marks and areas that are no longer smooth. Before I continue, however, I should mention that many people think they have hardwoods floors, but actually have the newer "fake" or synthetic hardwood called laminate. Do not use the methods outlined here to clean your laminate floors, because laminate is not wood. In fact, I am only going to discuss how I clean my hardwood floors.

Before cleaning my hardwood floors, I sweep them to make sure all the dust and dirt particles are collected. If you have older wood, you might need to use sweeping compound, but on newer floors or well-preserved wood, a broom and damp cloth will do. Use soft brooms and cloths on the hardwood, otherwise you can scratch and damage the wood. Corn brooms are not recommended. Rather, use the type with magnetic edges which are soft, and pick up more dirt.

If you have spilled something on the hardwood, it is best to remove it right away with a damp cloth. Once the substance is set, it is going to be difficult to remove, plus the color may stain the wood grain. If you do find a stain or blob of something that has hardened on your hardwood, use steam to soften and remove it. Do not be tempted to scrape it with something sharp. Be patient and you will get the spot removed. Gum or candle wax should be removed by applying a bag of ice, which will make it very hard and you can just pick it up. Hardwood is very durable, yet at the same time, it does need proper care to maintain its luster.

To actually clean the floors, there have always been products on the market to use. Older homes were typically built with hardwood floors, so it was common fifty years ago for housewives to regularly clean their floors with some form of oil or paste. The products could be used not only to clean the hardwood floors, buy also for wood paneling on the walls. In those days, too, ladies got down on their hands and knees to clean the floors, applying the oil with a soft rag. Believe it or not, they even used steel wool on the floors to get out black marks. Nowadays, most people would use a plain mop or even a specialty mop for the sole purpose of using on hardwood. But, scrubbing with an abrasive tool or cleaner is not advised.

Lemon oil is often promoted as an excellent cleaner for hardwood floors. Manufacturers expound the benefits of lemon wax saying that it preserves and nourishes the wood. This is a myth. In fact, the wood is already dead, and the lemon oil is full of solvents that do nothing to nourish the wood. The floors may look good for a short period of time from the shine, but in fact, they are not being hydrated in any way. Another fruit that was highly promoted was orange. Both of these products have been found to be damaging to the hardwood.

General rules for cleaning hardwood floors:

• Do not use abrasive substances or tools
• Do not use ammonia, bleach, vinegar or detergents
• Do not use mops of water
• Use linseed oil on a soft rag
• Use paste wax