How To Spring Clean Wooden Floors

There are millions of homes around the world who use some type of wood flooring, be it solid or engineered wooden floors. Provided the right care is applied to the floor, it can last for 30 years or even more depending on its quality. The key to achieving this longevity is to maintain regular care and to clean the wood flooring intelligently. Here are our top tips.

1. Clear the room - Make sure the area is free of any obstacles so you can concentrate on cleaning rather than moving furniture around. Do not drag any furniture around as you will surely damage its coatings.

2. Start by sweeping - The last thing you would want is to apply grains of dirt and dust into the wood. Start by sweeping the area to ensure any traces of dirt are removed.

3. Mop the floor - Water and wood flooring do not mix well. However, using an almost dry damp mop rather than a wet mop water won't seep into the wood and is the only method of cleaning all suppliers agree on.

4. Consider using cleaners - In most cases implementing steps 1 to 3 will make the floor look almost new, however if the floor hasn’t been cared for, commercial cleaners might be the only answer. Always make sure you read the label thoroughly to ensure that it is suitable for your type of floor.

5. Wax the floor - This optional stage also known as 'wax polish' can improve the colour of the wood, but avoid using it often as it might build up and attract dirt.

6. Repeat - To extend the lifespan of the floor, repeat steps 1 to 4 ever week, and step 5 once every three months.

To further extend the longevity of the floor, you might consider re-coating the floor. This is normally recommended for solid wood floors and not for engineered wood floors so be sure you know the type of floor you have.