Dear Friends,
All everyone is talking about is the new year. And I guess with all this starting fresh mumbo jumbo, I have been paying more attention to my housekeeping. In our new house we have hardwood floors on most of the main level including the kitchen. I was beyond thrilled when we purchased because at the old house there was a lot of less- than- pleasing cracked tile and plenty of carpet. The point? Getting there. The hardwoods are a learning process in the cleaning department. I feel like they are always dirty or gritty but particularly in the kitchen.
So, I’m asking for your advice, dear readers. What is your process for keeping your hardwoods clean? Sweep? Vac? Mop? Swiffer? Microfiber mop? I’ve tried a combination of all of those and still haven’t found quite the right combo. How often? Do you have a schedule?
I couldn’t resist some pics of beautiful, unique hardwood floors to ooh and ahh over…
Hi I have hardwood too and about once every week or so depending on how dirty they get (I have them in my kitchen too) I wash them with Vim for wood floors. I have been doing it for 4 years and no problems so far..make sure the mop is fairly dry not sopping wet. and I use a towel and dry the floor after..just drop it on the floor and walk around. Haha must be some sight to see. I am in Canada but I am sure you can get a similar if not same wood floor cleaner…I cant just get away with a swiffer especially in the kitchen.. I use a small rug in front of the sink that I can throw in the wash and that really helps as that is where the most mess seems to be. Cheers and I hope this helps Frances
I sweep the hardwoods in the kitchen, breakfast room and hallway every day, two times a day when our girls were younger. I have a Shark Vac then Steam I use about twice a month (once a week in the kitchen). I vacuum with it , them steam clean the floors using no chemicals) If the floors are really dirty, then I will sweep, then steam, then vac. I keep a rug in front of the refrigerator(helps if you drop something), & a rug in front of the sink in the kitchen. I also keep one in the hallway to catch dirt coming in from the laundry room and one in front of the back deck door and the front door. The 2 rugs in the kitchen and the one in the hall get washed every week. Hope that helps!
Hi, I have hardwood in my entire house as well, love it. I really love my shark steam mop, cleans perfect, and my house smells so fresh when I am done. So easy to use as well and chemical free. I do not know how I lived without it for so long. My floors are beautiful because of it. Good luck!!
I love wood floors…my old house had them in the kitchen and my new house will too. I use to dry swift them regularly..then wet swift once a week..then about once a month I would wash them with Murphy oil soap. Now my floors were real wood so I don’t know if that would work on yours. Enjoy
Thanks for the great info everyone! Oh, and yes the hardwoods are real in this house. They are not pre-finished either so I think they could take the steam mop?
I am old enough to remember when hardwood floors were popular the first time around, in the 50s. My mother had a dust mop (removable head that could be thrown in the washer). She dust mopped every day, then periodically would wax the floors. The dust mops are still available, by the way, from the Fuller Brush Company. Very green because they are not disposable. You wash and reuse them. Same for the waxing pad.
You are right that hardwood floors are very hard to keep clean and are very labor intensive. They are cold, do not absorb sound, and VERY HARD TO KEEP CLEAN.
We had hardwood at all our old apartments and swept two-three times each day. As for cleaning if you’re not big on chemicals, white vinegar is your friend. Dilute 10:1 water:vinegar, dampen a reusable dust cloth (jif etc) and stick it on a swiffer or similar tool. The great thing about Vinegar is it’s a natural disinfectant, is kid&pet safe & the smell dissipates completely when it evaporates. We used to wash the floors every weekend.
If you plan on staying for a while and the cost is within your budget I would strongly recommend a steam cleaner designed for wood floors, they are awesome.
Vacuum and murphy’s oil soap for sure as needed.
Love our hardwood floors. They need to be completely refinished but for the most part are in decent enough shape. I have a Bissel Vac and Steam (it vacuums as it steams) which does a great job. It doesn’t get too wet and dries quickly. I also just read a good review for a Black and Decker machine here: http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/11/steamy-giveaway.html.
Ooooh! I love these hardwood floors!!!
beautiful floors! i had a hardwood person tell me to not steam clean even if the floors did not get very wet. so i have never done that although it seems quick and easy. i use vinegar and water in a fine mist and mop quickly. sometimes when the method hardwood floor cleaner goes on sale i will buy a bottle because i like the scent.
Thanks a lot for the time and energy that you’ve been putting into writing your article. I leave comments not too often, but sometimes it just needs to be said. Cheers!
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Hardwood flooring increases the value of a home because of its beauty and durability. Unlike other flooring options, you can extend the life of hardwood flooring by refinishing the wood when it becomes dull and pitted. The decision to replace or refinish a hardwood floor should take into account the age and condition of the hard wood floor.
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