Wood floors are beautiful, but they require a lot of care. Is mopping wood floors bad? Read on to find out more about the best way to clean your wood flooring and what you should avoid doing!
What is the best way to clean wood floors?
The best way to clean wood floors is with an old towel and simple household cleaner such as plain water, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol.
When should you mop your hardwood floor?
Treat the floor when it gets dirty. This will help avoid damage from excess moisture. Do not wait until the floor is so dirty that it must be scrubbed to clean.
Always mop a wood floor with a damp, not wet, mop or cloth. Excess water will lead to damage the floor as well as mold and mildew.
Do not use abrasive cleaners on hardwood floors since they may dull the finish [of your wood floor].
Tips for keeping your wood floor looking great:
* Keep the wood floor dry.
* Sweep with a broom, not a vacuum cleaner. Household vacuums are too harsh on wood floors and may even cause damage to the boards themselves. The same is true of dust mops— they tend to push dirt around rather than collecting it like a broom does. If you must use a vacuum, try to get a model with soft rubber wheels which do less damage to the floor. Also, be sure not to vacuum up liquid spills; this could cause the wood to buckle.
While you might have heard that mopping wood floors is bad because excess water will lead to damage to the floor, and even your subfloor, as we see in the summary above, this is not always accurate.
Moisture can cause your floor to warp or swell, and excess water can leak into your subflooring, causing rotting and mold growth. It’s best to wipe down hardwood floors instead of mopping them. Mop the floors only when necessary (when they get dirty).
The type of mop and type of cleaning solution you use is also important. Rotating your mop when mopping hardwood floors will help reduce wear on the floor. Spraying a thin coat of water first, then adding more cleaner to create a sudsy mixture, can even prove helpful in keeping your floor looking great without creating excess water.
How often should you mop hardwood floor?
Wood floors should be mopped regularly. You need to mop your floor about once a month to keep the dust and dirt from accumulating on your wood floors. Vacuuming will help keep the dust levels down, but it won’t get rid of odors or prevent scratches on the surface of your hardwood floors.
You would want to mop your wood floors after every time you clean them. It is good to mop the floors when they start looking dirty and not wait until they are soiled before you decide to mop the floors again. It is best to try and avoid getting water on your wood floor as it can cause problems with the surface of the hardwood floors.
Is it bad to use a wet mop on hardwood floor?
Yes, it is bad to use a wet mop on hardwood floors. You should use your damp mop on your wood floors, and you should not make the floor overly wet. If you find that you need to clean up something, wipe it clean and dry with a cloth before using the mop again.
Try not to get the floor overly damp when you are trying to mop the floors. If your wood floor is looking a little dingy, you can try cleaning it with a soft cloth and then wiping it down after cleaning up any excess mess on the hardwood floors.
Tips for cleaning wood floors:
Cleaning Solution: Never use ammonia or vinegar to clean your wood floors because these harsh chemicals will cause your fine finish to peel and crack in no time. Simply wipe the floor’s surface with a clean, damp cloth.
Storing rags: Use old towels or newspapers (not colored paper) for wiping up spills. Place them in a container that you can close tightly when they’re not needed.
Keep dust at bay: Dust your floors regularly by using a soft broom. Sweep across the floor in small, swift motions rather than back and forth – this will not only speed up the process, but it can also help you to avoid scratches or gouges that may occur if you’re overly aggressive, as you might be prone to do when angry with a dirty floor.
Unobstructed airflow: Keep your wood floors well ventilated. If you’re using an area rug on top of the wood, remove it when the weather is nice and replace it in the winter. This will help ensure that your wood doesn’t get moldy or warped while inside. It’s also a good idea to regularly sweep and dust your area rug to prevent it from getting moldy.
Moisture control: Don’t store firewood in the basement near a wood floor that is prone to excessive moisture unless you can provide adequate ventilation. If possible, keep the humidity down in rooms where moisture can build up or go for hardwood floors resistant to moisture, such as oak floors.
Best practices when cleaning wood floor:
Correct mopping (not very wet and don’t over soak), with material designed for cleaning hardwood, is ok. More important than how you mop is what you’re using to clean the floor. There are several factors at play here, including the type of finish on the floor, how often you clean it, and what kind of dirt you are removing.
Typical hardwood cleaners (e.g., Murphy’s Oil Soap) will leave an oily residue that can build up over time. You’ll want to mop with hot water, then wipe dry immediately afterward with a microfiber towel. You’ll get significantly better results if you start with a dry mop, such as the Swiffer Wet Jet.
Mopping your wood floor more than once a month is not necessary unless you have pets or unsightly spills that need to be cleaned up regularly. For example, kitchen floors can be mopped every few days because they are high-traffic areas. In contrast, the bathroom may benefit from a damp mopping once per month to remove mold and mildew.
Wait until your wood floor is dry before applying a coat of polish; you can always wipe up excess moisture with another towel if you need it to be dry quicker.
Every few months, use a stiff brush to remove dirt and dust from your floor. Don’t use a vacuum on your wood floor; the suction can cause gouges in the finish. In general, using a vacuum on any hard surface is a bad idea because you risk scratching the floor or pulling up loose bits of debris that will scratch it down the road.
What is the difference between hardwood and other types of floors?
The biggest difference between hardwood and other types of floors is in the manufacturing process. First, a layer of adhesive like flooring glue or resin is applied to the sub-floor. Then another layer–usually wood flour or sawdust–is sprinkled on top of that. A pressurized roller applies even pressure across the entire surface and forces those layers together. The result is more solid than a liquid mixture would be because it sets up faster under pressure.
Hardwood floors are made of wood that has been cut into planks.
When you walk on the floor, it does not squeak. More expensive hardwood floors have a high-gloss finish and a more intricate grain pattern than basic wood flooring. Glossy finishes make cleaning easier because dirt will not show up as clearly.
Hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished, which makes them an excellent choice if you’re planning to stay in your home for a long time. (However, refinishing hardwood flooring is not the same as refinishing a wooden table or other pieces of furniture.) In addition, hardwood floors are very strong and will not warp when exposed to heat, meaning they’re much more resistant to changes in humidity.
In conclusion…
In general, mopping your wood floor is fine because the finish applied to it is waterproof. If you’re using a mop with excess water, start by mopping with a dry mop first and then follow up with another pass once it’s slightly damp. And don’t worry about over-cleaning–unless you’re combining this method with other chores, such as washing the windows or cleaning the kitchen floor, you will not damage your wood floor.
Be confident in your hardwood floor routine cleaning, and you will keep your floors looking their best for many years to come.
