Gleaming wood floors can be a game changer for any room in your home.
However, you have to work for them, especially after the winter season as it often leaves behind scratches, stains, and other forms of damage.
“When we close our windows and turn on our heater during the colder months, we create extremely dry air. That dry air, along with the salt and grit that we track in from the outdoors on our shoes, and lower humidity, really takes a toll on our floors,” says Isabella Flores, cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid San Diego in San Diego.
The good news is deep cleaning wood floors is fairly simple once you know what to do—and what to avoid.
Cleaning tips from the pros
First and foremost, thoroughly dry clean your floors with a microfiber dust mop or a vacuum with a soft floor attachment.
The goal here is to pick up all the abrasive debris that built up over the winter. Don’t skip this step to mop instead as doing so can push the abrasion deeper into the surface.
If you have solid hardwood, the next step is to look for boards that have shifted as a result of the winter humidity swings.
“Since solid hardwood expands and contracts due to moisture changes much more than engineered wood, it’s normal for small gaps to appear between boards, ” explains Flores.
If the boards don’t close back in the spring, however, there might be a serious moisture issue that warrants an investigation by a flooring professional.
To thoroughly clean both solid hardwood and engineered wood floors, use a barely damp microfiber mop.
“The key is to work in small sections and to dry each section immediately after cleaning to ensure that there is no excess moisture left to sit on the surface of the floor,” says Flores.
Common mistakes to avoid
Whatever you do, remember that water and wood are not friends, meaning your mop should be slightly damp to the touch.
“If you press the mop head to the floor and a wet sheen appears for longer than a few seconds after you lift it off, the mop is too wet. Water will cause boards to cup, swell, and delaminate, and those types of repairs are very costly,” explains Flores.
Flores also warns against steam mops.
“Regardless of what the packaging says, the superheated moisture that will pump into the space between the board edges will cause the same type of damage as standing water. Most likely, it will occur even faster. Additionally, many flooring manufacturers will void the warranty if steam mops are used to clean their floors,” Flores says.
When it comes to cleaning agents, use a pH neutral cleaner that is specifically designed to clean hardwood floors. Flores recommends the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner because it’s been extensively studied, rinses clean, and does not leave a residue that can build up over time.
She advises against bleach, ammonia-based cleaners, Murphy’s Oil Soap, and vinegar as these options can strip the protective finish, leave residue, and cause further damage. Two-in-one cleaners and polishes are also a no-no as they tend to leave a sticky film that can make the floor dirtier than when you started.
Choosing between a simple clean and full professional sanding
One of the easiest ways to determine whether a hardwood floor needs a cleaning or extensive sanding is to conduct a water droplet test.
Sprinkle a few drops of water onto the hardwood floor in a high-traffic area. If the water beads up, the finish is intact and the floor only requires a simple clean.
However, if the water soaks into the wood and quickly darkens its color, professional sanding is not an option. It’s a necessity if you want to prevent stains and rotting.
If you notice uniform dullness that does not improve with a thorough cleaning with the correct process and agents, sanding may also be in order to restore the finish.
Additionally, gray or black stains in the wood itself that do not respond to cleaning are indicative of moisture that has penetrated beyond the finish layer.
“Stains such as these cannot be cleaned out. They require sanding deep enough to remove the stained wood, which is a full sand and refinish,” says Flores.
If you have wood floors, it’s a good idea to call a flooring pro for an evaluation as soon as possible.
“Waiting until the damage is extensive will eliminate most of the most affordable solutions and make full professional sanding the only viable option,” adds Flores.
