Leave your floors looking great and smelling fresh with any of these steam mops. Top-Rated French Door Refrigerators for Optimizing Freshness Extend Food Freshness With These Side-by-Side Refrigerators 9 Best Steam Irons for a Wrinkle-Free Wardrobe 9 Crepe Makers and Pans for Delectable French Treats Best Cold-Press Juicers to Kickstart Your 2017 Turn Down for Brunch! 7 Egg Poachers for Perfect Benedicts 13 Best Hand Mixers for Whipping, Scrambling, and Kneading Keurig and Anheuser-Busch Are Partnering to Create an At-Home Beer Keurig Space Heaters That'll Get You Through the Next Polar Vortex The Best Soda Makers for Consistently Carbonated DrinksBest Ice Cream Makers Steam mops claim to work without chemicals. But can heated water alone do the job? Of the 16 mops we tested, four were true grime-fighters. For more great floor cleaners, be sure to check out our favorite vacuums. ) cleans continuously on one tank for 35-plus minutes, cutting through the smears and stains in its path.

Not just for floors, this mop has attachments that clean windows, countertops, and toilets. ) zaps sticky and oily residue from floors, and its handle folds down for easy storage. But in our tests, its water tank was tapped out after only 13 minutes. Haan Agile Steam Mop Review Shark S3101 Steam Mop Review SteamFast Multi-Surface Steam Mop Review Hoover TwinTank Steam Mop Review Sienna Dynamo Pro Steam Mop & Sweeper Review Oreck Grab-It & Steam It Sweep-and-Steam Mop Review Bissell Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner Review H20 Mop X5 5-in-1 Steam Mop Review Reliable Steamboy T1 Steam Floor Mop Review Bissell Steam Mop Deluxe Review Get in a Routine The best way to clean hardwood floors is to follow a schedule: Dust: This is one of the most underestimated and easy steps in the process. Dust daily to keep dust and dirt off the floor. This will prevent scratching and essentially extend the beauty and life of your floor. Daily dust-mopping will also significantly reduce allergens in the home.

More effective than traditional methods, a microfiber material uses a static charge to attract more dust and allergens. These smaller fibers reach into floor pores to lift dirt more effectively. Clean: There's a right way to clean floors, and there's a wrong way. Too much liquid can damage floors, while the wrong formula may not work. Look for pH-neutral, nontoxic and biodegradable formulas to clean effectively and keep your home and environment safe. best way to remove duct tape from car paintVinegar, for example, can eat away at finish, even when diluted with water. best vacuum cleaners cylinderUse a washable microfiber pad, which will remove bacteria and keep waste out of landfills.best air duct cleaning los angeles

Polish: Use water-based polishes to restore luster and shine every two to three months. These polishes won’t leave a residue or emit harmful toxins, plus they'll prevent over-cleaning and stripping of your floor. Durable, urethane-based polishes have fast dry times, no waxy buildup and a protective wear layer to fill in microscratches and even out the appearance of the floor. Avoid using water and vinegar, soap-based cleaners, wax or steam cleaners on your hardwood floor. duct cleaning machines for saleVinegar and water will dull the floor’s finish over time, while soap or wax will leave a residue. best cleaner for bare wood floorsSteam cleaners put heat and excessive water on your floor, which can lead to cupping and long-term damage.recommended vacuum cleaner 2013 uk

Use a natural, rubber rug underlayment with a waffle pattern in the entry ways or high-traffic areas; use felt floor protectors on furniture and avoid high heels. Regularly dust and clean your hardwood floor to keep it looking like new. Use the proper tools to clean your floor: a mop paired with a machine-washable, microfiber pad for dusting and cleaning. Avoid string mops that put excessive amounts of water on the floor, which can be damaging, and push dirt around, instead of picking up and removing dirt. Wipe up all spills immediately to avoid permanent stains. Keep pet nails trimmed. Maintain a comfortable environment and temperature — no extremes in humidity. Homekeeping 101: Cleaning Your Hardwood Floor Whether you own your own home or not, keeping your floors clean and in good condition is an important step in general house keeping. Flooring, particularly in high-traffic areas, takes a lot of beating and you may sometimes feel as if your floors are never free from injury and insult.

If you have hardwood floors here are some tips for how to keep them looking their best. The mortal enemies of wood is moisture and dirt; both of which will most likely settle on your floors continuously. Standing water or liquids can warp the wood and cause it to swell, so addressing spills as soon as they occur is important. Dirt-catching methods such as using entry rugs, leaving your shoes at the door and regular vacuuming and dusting can stave off tiny particles like dust and dirt that can easily scratch the floor. To figure out the best cleaning method for your floor you need to find out how your wood floors are sealed or finished (usually either wax or urethane). If you've recently installed your flooring and are able to obtain a sample and get manufacturing details, then consider yourself fortunate. Samples are the best way to assess what exactly is underfoot and will enable you to test cleaning solutions and methods. If you have no clue as to what exactly you have then try as best you can to determine if there is any top coat or finish.

Floors treated with a urethane finish (usually a polyurethane or a polyacrylic) are the easiest to clean and a quick swipe of a damp cloth will do the trick. Here are the best rules of thumb for cleaning your hardwood floors, no matter what type of finish you have: Do not use ammonia, or harsh, abrasive cleaners Do not use furniture sprays which can leave a slippery, waxy build-up Do use a wood cleaner that is designed for floors. There are many on the market and you may need to spot-test your floors to see which works best. You can also make your own solution by mixing about a quarter cup of pH-neutral soap or Murphy's Oil Soap to a bucket of warm water. Use a sparing amount of water to clean and be sure your cloth or mop isn't dripping with water. Go over the floors a second time with plain water to rinse. Do use wood appropriate cleaning tools. Soft, non-scratching fibrous cloths (like microfiber) are perfect for picking up surface dirt without marking your floors.