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The hardwood floors in your home are a valuable and beautiful asset to your home, and a popular and common flooring choice in Walnut Creek. Hardwood floors require care and protection to maintain their appearance and integrity over time, but knowing the correct cleaning methods and techniques to best protect and conserve your hardwood floors can often be confusing. Here we look at 5 of the most frequently asked questions to clarify the best methods for cleaning wooden floors.

What’s the Best Way to Maintain Hardwood Floors Day to Day?

Regular maintenance and routine cleaning of your hardwood floors is essential to keeping them looking their best. Dust, dirt and grit can damage your hardwood floors by creating marks and cuts that dull and diminish the floor surfaces. Remove dust and dirt on the surface of your floorboards at least twice a week with a vacuum, dry dust mop or broom. Try to use a special hardwood floor attachment for your vacuum or a hard surface setting to protect your floors, and avoid upright vacuums with bristled beater bars as these can damage and dent the floor.

Should I Use a Steam Mop on my Wooden Floors?

Many cleaning guides recommend using steam mops to clean and sanitize hardwood floors, and many steam mop manufacturers state that they can be used on sealed hardwood floors. However, the manufacturers of hardwood floors often warn against the use of steam mops, as tests of steam mops have revealed that many leave moisture residue that can seep into cracks and remain, causing damage. The heat from the steam can also dull finishes and damage connections, so be sure to double check with your wooden floor manufacturer before you use a steam mop to clean hardwood floors.

Can I use Vinegar and Water to Clean My Hardwood Floors?

In an attempt to achieve a cleaner and more hygienic finish, many homeowners use a solution of vinegar and water, or water alone to clean hardwood floors. However, moisture provided by this solution can seek into cracks in the sealing or floorboards and cause damage. Additionally, vinegar is acidic, and acids can etch and wear away the finish of a hardwood floor so vinegar solutions are generally not recommended for wooden floors.

How Can I Deep Clean My Hardwood Floors?

If you want to provide your floors with a safe and more thorough clean, the best way is to invite a professional hardwood floor cleaner to gently yet effectively deep clean your floors. This service is often provided by reputable professional carpet cleaning companies, and is an incredibly time and cost efficient way to deep clean hardwood floors without harsh chemicals, or any risk of damage to your floors. This allows you to not only protect your investment in your hardwood floors, but helps to keep them safe, clean and hygienic for your family too.

Will Cleaning Remove Scratches, Scuffs and Stains?

While lighter everyday cleaning may not remove stains like water drop stains or scuff marks from your wooden floors, deeper cleaning such as professional hardwood floor cleaning may help to remove or diminish the appearance of minor scratches, scuffs and stains on the upper layer of your wooden flooring. For deeper and more serious damage, resanding, refinishing and replacement may be necessary to return your floorboards to their former glory.

Your hardwood floors are an investment in your home, your comfort and your lifestyle. For expert advice on proper cleaning and maintenance for hardwood floors, as well as professional hardwood floor cleaning in Walnut Creek and the Bay Area, contact Diablo Carpet for the perfect finish and results.