How do you keep your hardwood floors clean?

12 years ago

I am new to hardwood floors. I have dark reddish hardwood floors and a big st. Bernard and 3 cats and my floors seem to be dirty ALL THE TIME. Everyday I go home and run my Roomba, then I either clean the floors with bona, steam clean them or use wet swifters to get the dirt up. It is a lot of work and I am concerned that I am cleaning them to much. It doesn't help that my house is surrounded by dirt right now (new construction) so I am hopeful that I will have grass soon. How do you take care of your hardwood floors?

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PRO

Cancork Floor Inc.

12 years ago

foreverfarm11 - you are doing everything right...except the steam cleaner and the swiffer. Stick to vacuuming/sweeping regularly. The hardwood floor cleaners are a 1/week damp mopping. If you must use a swiffer, please use the "Hardwood Floor" version. The others will ruin you finish faster than the steam cleaner.

You have 4 animals that shed...and shed heavily. Spring is in the air which means both the cats and the dog will go through their spring molt. So long as you have the animals and the hardwood, you will have this problem.

There is nothing more to be done. You are already doing it. Remember: sweep/vacuum (turn off the beater bar...or else you will cause micro-scratches in your finish very, very quickly) 3-7 times per week, damp mop (water only...no additives...NO regular swiffer) a few times per week...hardwood floor cleaner 1/week.

That's it. There is nothing more to it. If you feel this isn't enough, you may want to look towards a lower gloss (satin is best). If you have never had wood before you will feel over whelmed by the visible debris...if you had carpet you still had all this stuff but you didn't see it.

Try to relax. Let it go from time to time and clean/damp mop only when mud/kitchen spills are visible. The floor won't change and neither will the amount of hair...unless you rid yourself of all your pets (don't do it...it's not worth it) there is only one thing left to change...your reaction. Imagine keeping up this pace for the next 25-100 years. Exhausting is the word I come up with.

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Comments (8)

ispoildogs
12 years ago
I use a backpack vacuum 2-3 times a week to pick up dog hair, etc. I use Bruce's Hardwood and Laminate Cleaner in a spray mop on weekends and as needed. I stay away from water/steam because I've heard it's not good for the wood. Some folks swear by it, though.
foreverfarm11 thanked ispoildogs
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Curt D'Onofrio
12 years ago
We just damp mop. Not too much water. Water is the enemy of wood, but some is needed so dust clings to the mop. If your hardwood receives even a little bit of Sun, this minor water evaporates very very fast
User
12 years ago
I have used" Bona" Hardwood floor cleaner for years ;)
foreverfarm11
Original Author
12 years ago
Cancork Floor Inc thanks for the advice. I can not imagine trying to keep up with it and am hopeful that once we have more grass around the house it will be easier. I am actually ok with it a little more than my husband. every time he see's a footprint on the floor he thinks we need to clean it lol.
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
12 years ago
Buy him a mop (micro fibre) and some hardwood cleaning solution for Easter. If he wants it clean, he can do it himself...mine does.

If not, then I guess his OCD just isn't strong enough to affect others.
PRO
Momentum Janitorial
8 years ago
The best way is a professional recommendation.I would like to say that one of the modest and coolest methods of keeping the hardwood floor spotless and making it last a long time is to-vacuum it regularly.Every dog holder with hardwood floors has pondered how to keep hardwood floors clean of dog hair,but the answer isn't always a simple one.A regular routine of pet grooming and floor cleaning can minimize hair problems.
CGinNoCO
8 years ago
I sweep with the Bona microfiber mop, and vacuum as the debris collects, then use the microfiber cleaning pad with either Bona hardwood floor cleaner or Murphy's orange wood cleaner. Currently I'm trying Seventh Gen and I like it. I have to do this at least twice/week, more in the spring and fall when windows are open and all the dust comes in from the lots still under construction. We are replacing the bedroom carpeting with wood to get rid of all the dust that just won't vacuum out. Sometimes I just sit on the floor and wipe with cleaner and a microfiber cleaning rag, especially good for corners.