8 Tips for Cleaning Hardwood Floors (Image credit: Adrienne Breaux) Okay, we've tackled the best ways to clean laminate, tile, and carpeted floors, and now it's time for the [my] holy grail of flooring: hardwood. Maybe you have gorgeous hardwood floors that you'd like to pass on to your great-grandchildren, or you want to pay the proper respect to the trees that gave their lives, or perhaps you just want shiny, shiny floors; in any case, read on... Here is some of the best advice from around the web for keeping your hardwoods happy.Martha Stewart's right-hand man Kevin Sharkey refinished his wood floors and wants only the best for them — and for your floors. His crucial first stage of attack is to vacuum every day, or just dust mop "when you don't have time to vacuum". Wax Yearly, Mop Never: Martha herself reminds us that if our floors are waxed, we should never mop them. She recommends wiping up spills right away, but does not mention how she would clean up the everyday grime.

Back in 1995, Martha advised "For wood floors with a polyurethane finish, damp-mop with a combination of one quart water and one-quarter cup vinegar." However, in 2002, she told the New York Times, "And contrary to fairly common advice, you should never use diluted vinegar or ammonia to clean polyurethane. The acid can etch the finish, making it dull." Dust Smart: Better Homes & Gardens recommends frequent dustings with either "a mop that has been treated with a dusting agent" or disposable electrostatic cloths. best vacuum cleaners uk 2012This should be enough to keep things clean between semi-annual deep cleanings.best lightweight vacuum cleaner 2015 Damp- Not Wet- Mop: BH&G goes on to describe the correct way to deep clean your hardwood floors, and while it does involve a mop, it barely involves any water at all. best vacuum cleaner for carpet cleaning in india

When it comes to any mop and cloth involved in the washing and rinsing process, "wring it almost dry so it feels only slightly damp to the touch". Diaper Genie: As for what type of cloth to use, Real Simple suggests that "Cloth diapers work well for buffing, because they’re very soft and absorbent." Those of us that are baby-free can improvise. Make Yourself A Spot Of Tea: Oh my goodness, you are going to love this one: The DIY Network's solution involves two teabags and boiling water! air duct cleaning tools sale"The tannic acid in tea creates a beautiful shine for hardwood floors."service experts duct cleaning Dust & Mist: Finally, an Apartment Therapy reader who owns a floor cleaning company sent in thorough pro tips that all make perfect sense to me. air duct cleaning tools sale

I hope I'll be able to put them to use someday, after the Hardwood Floor Fairy pays me a visit! Have any of these worked or not-worked for you? And have you ever teabagged your floor?!How to Clean Hardwood Floors: Must-Know Tricks Keep hardwood floors in top condition with smart cleaning methods that will make caring for your floors and maintaining their good looks even easier. Share your take on this idea!Upload your photo here. Hardwood Floors: Preventive Maintenance Cut hardwood-floor cleaning time with smart preventive maintenance. Position mats both outside and inside exterior doors to lessen tracked-in dirt. In snowy or rainy weather, include a boot removal area to avoid damage from water and de-icers.Prevent marks by using floor protectors under furniture and by using rugs in play areas to ensure children's toys don't scratch the floor. Hardwood Floors: Basic Care Speed up the cleaning process by first dusting the floor with a mop that has been treated with a dusting agent to pick up dust, dirt, and pet hair that might scratch the floor surface.

For weekly or biweekly cleaning, vacuum with a floor-brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner or an electric broom. Do not use a vacuum with a beater bar attachment, which can scratch a wood floor's finish. For quick dusting, use disposable electrostatic cloths, available at grocery and discount stores. Save money by using both sides of the disposable cloths. Hardwood Floors: Deeper Cleaning Dirt, oil, and grime build up over time and aren't completely removed by a weekly dust mopping. For occasional deep cleaning (consider doing the cleaning in the spring or just before the winter holidays), use a wood-cleaning product diluted according to the label instructions. Saturate a sponge or rag mop in the water, then wring it almost dry so it feels only slightly damp to the touch. Damp-mop the floor, being careful to prevent standing water on the floor. Rinse with a clean mop dampened in clear water, but only if the cleaning product requires it. Wipe up excess liquid because standing water can damage wood surfaces.

If the weather is humid, operate a ceiling fan or the air-conditioner to speed up drying. Hardwood Floors: Removing Marks Consider your floor's finish before trying to remove a mark. If the stain is on the surface, your floor probably has a hard finish, such as urethane. If the stain has penetrated through to the wood, the floor probably has a soft oiled finish -- common in older homes whose floors have not been refinished and resealed. Wipe surface stains from a hard finish with a soft, clean cloth. Never use sandpaper, steel wool, or harsh chemicals on such a surface because they can permanently damage the finish. The following remedies are for hardwood floors with soft oiled finishes. If needed, end each treatment by staining the wood, then waxing and buffing the spot to match the rest of the floor. Dark spots and pet stains: Rub the spot with No. 000 steel wool and floor wax. If the area is still dark, apply bleach or vinegar and allow it to soak into the wood for about an hour.