Caring for Hardwood Flooring

Photos: Bona

Knowing how to properly clean and care for your hardwood floors will extend their lifetime and keep them looking gorgeous for decades to come. Consistent care is the best way to prevent complicated problems; our recommendations for establishing a cleaning schedule are below. Because wear and tear is inevitable, we're also sharing some of our best tips for fixing common hardwood floor issues, such as scratching and fading. Keep reading for the ultimate guide to caring for your hardwood flooring.

Cleaning Options​

Daily: Dusting
Dusting your hardwood floor with a mop and dusting agent will pick up dust, dirt, and pet hair and make subsequent cleanings (such as weekly vacuuming) easier and faster. It will also help prevent scratching. The best tools for dusting your floors are vacuums or brooms. You can also do quick dusting (such as at doorways or in corners) with disposable or reusable microfiber dusting cloths. If you are cleaning your entire room, leave the floors for last as dust is likely to fall as you're cleaning all the surfaces above it. You should also start in the furthest corner of the room and work your way out of the room toward the entrance, which is usually the highest-traffic, dirtiest area.

Weekly: Vacuuming or Mopping
About once a week, you should vacuum your hardwood floor with a floor-brush attachment or with an electric broom. It is important not to use a vacuum with a beater bar attachment, as this can scratch your floor. Use the hose attachment on your vacuum along the perimeter of your room to catch any dirt or debris that is trapped near the baseboards. Wet mops are also a great tool for getting dirt out of tricky corners. If you are using a mop, remember not to use water. A light misting with a hardwood floor cleaner will provide just the right amount of moisture to pick up dirt.

Monthly: Polishing
Every few months, your hardwood flooring's finish should be protected and rejuvenated with a good polish. For floors that have a protective sealant, polishing fills in the tiny scratches and evens out its protective surface. Polishes provide a protective layer and will give your floors a fresh sheen. After your standard dusting and vacuuming or mopping routine, simply squirt polish onto the floor and spread it with an applicator. It will be dry and ready to walk on in about an hour and ready for heavy traffic in about a day. For best results, completely clear the room before cleaning and polishing.

Yearly: Deep Cleaning
Because hardwood floors endure so much wear and tear, yearly deep cleanings and/or refinishing your floor every 3-5 years will help repair damage that has been done and replaces the old protective finish. Deep cleaning and hardwood floor restoration are techniques best left to professionals who have access to high-powered tools and solutions.

Preventative Measures
There are several things you can do to care for your floors and minimize the amount of cleaning and repair work you will have to do.​

1. Stop Dirt at the Door: Regularly sweep and clean the outdoor entrances to your home, such as the front porch, garage, and back deck. 

2. Use Area Rugs and Mats: Combine floor care with style by using doormats at your entrances and area rugs or runners in high-traffic areas. 

3. Take off Your Shoes: High heels and shoes with hard heels can damage floors, and all shoes are notorious for tracking dirt into your home. 

4. Use Fabric Pads and Glides: When furniture is moved or dragged, it can scratch your hardwood floors. Protect your floors by placing pads or glides under the feet of your furniture. Avoid plastic wheeled furniture since they can easily scratch floors. 

5. Trim Your Pet's Claws: Prevent claw scratches and dents in your hardwood floors by regularly clipping your pet's nails.

Fixing Scratches: Light floor scratches can be repaired by polishing or by using a floor "refresher" product. Before applying the product, be sure to thoroughly clean the floor. Always follow product manufacturer guidelines. Deeper scratches should be fixed by hiring a professional contractor that is certified in hardwood floor refinishing. To locate a craftsman near you, click here.

Fixing Fading: Wood is photosensitive, some species more than others. Over time, sunlight can change the colour of your hardwood floors. Some species darken while others may lighten. Often times this is prevalent under area rugs and furniture where exposure is limited. One easy way to remedy this is to rearrange area rugs and furniture to allow areas to even out. Once fading has become extreme, you will need to sand and refinish it to bring it back to its original glory.

Best Products to Use
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Hardwood Floor Mops:

Bona mops, cleaners, and dusting and cleaning pads are ideal for daily dusting and weekly mopping jobs.

​Hardwood Floor Cleaners:

Available as sprays and refills or in cleaning kits, Bona hardwood floor cleaners can be used for spot cleaning or weekly mopping jobs.

​Wood Polishes:

Use Bona hardwood polishes and applicator pads to refresh your floors.

Tips!

Before deciding on a floor stain colour, it is a good idea to test it beforehand on a piece of scrap wood (same type as your floor). Keep in mind that your floor stain will appear darker once it has dried.

If your hardwood floors are waxed, they should never be wet mopped. They should be dusted and vacuumed regularly and stripped and rewaxed once or twice a year.

Wipe up all spills and wet debris (such as mud) as soon as possible to avoid permanent stains on your hardwood floors.

Article Sponsored By: Bona