How Should I Clean My Prefinished Hardwood Floors?

A lot of homeowners with newly-installed hardwood floors have the same question: How can I clean my new prefinished hardwood flooring without damaging the wood or the finish? Well, luckily for homeowners, cleaning prefinished hardwood floors is a lot easier than some people imagine it to be. The following are three simples steps you can take to make sure your new prefinished floors look great for years to come.

Vacuum/Sweep
This is the easiest and most commonly overlooked way to keep your prefinished floors looking great. Dirt, dust, and debris can build up on hardwood flooring and leave unsightly scratches and scrapes. Sweeping or vacuuming on a regular basis may be a pain, but it's the best way to protect your new floor's finish. Sidenote: If you're going to vacuum, make sure your vacuum has rubber wheels, otherwise it might cause more scratches than it prevents.

Clean Spills Immediately
Standing water (or any other liquid, really) is one of the biggest threats prefinished hardwood flooring can face. If not properly dealt with, a spill can seep through the floor's finish, damaging it and discoloring the wood. Making sure you clean up spills as soon as they happen will help preserve your floors' finish and avoid stains and discolorations.

Use Appropriate Cleaner
Sometimes sweeping just won't cut it. We get that. If you must mop or scrub, make sure you use an appropriate cleaner. We like DuraSeal's Hardwood Floor Cleaner - it was specifically made for use on prefinished floors, including floors with polyurethane and waterbased finishes. Using such a cleaner on occasion can help get rid of dirt, grime, and other times of built up without leaving a cloudy soap residue. Make sure to check with your hardwood manufacturer before using, though - they may have product suggestions of their own.

Here's a great video demonstrating some of the ways you can keep your floors clean and looking like new:

 

Do you have problems keeping your prefinished hardwood floors looking like new? Leave us a comment and tell us your story!