One of the reasons people love engineered flooring, is that its easy to care for! With proper cleaning and maintenance, your engineered wood floor should provide many years of high quality luster, and durability to your home. Not to mention, if you decide to sell your home, engineered hardwood floors go a long way in helping people decide to buy your home.Wood surfaces, even those protected by a rugged coat of polyurethane or other finish, need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Dirt and sand on the surface will act like sand paper, dulling or removing the finish. Liquids spilled on the floor, and not attended to quickly, can lead to damaged wood and staining.This guide to engineered flooring gives you an overview of what it takes to keep engineered hardwood looking great for many years. You’ll get the most from your investment with consistent floor care and maintenance. To learn more about other aspects of engineered flooring, see our engineered floor buying guide, or price and installation guides.

You’ll first need something to get up the loose dust, dirt and debris. A soft broom and dustpan can be used. You might prefer to vacuum the floor. If so, use a lightweight vacuum that does not have a rotating bristle bar or one with a “hard floor” mode that does not engage the bar.A slightly-damp mop can be used to remove remaining debris. If excess water remains on the floor after cleaning, use a towel to dry it.For tough spots, use the manufacturer-recommended cleaner and use it as instructed. In fact, most manufacturers make cleaning kits for use with their flooring.What you DON’T use is as important as what you do use.You’ve got two options when buying engineered flooring – material that can be refinished and that which must be replaced when worn. The thickness of the wear layer – the top layer of solid wood – will determine whether or not it can be refinished. Of course, the cost of engineered flooring is also effected by the type you choose.Some thicker flooring, usually ¾”, can be refinished more than once, significantly extending its useful life.

If so, you’ll get up to 80 years of wear from it, possibly more. Thinner materials, often just 3/8”, may have a wear layer that is too thin to be refinished and will give you 10-15 years of wear.How heavy the traffic is on the flooring and how well you care for it will have a lot to do with how long it lasts.The different thicknesses give you options. You can make your decision based on how long you intend to live in your current home or use the building if it is a commercial setting. Here are the most common questions related to the care and cleaning of hardwood flooring.Q: How to clean engineered hard wood floors without using a damp mop? A: We’ve found the best way to clean engineered hardwood floors is to avoid using water all together. There are some great microfiber floor mops that will take up dust and light dirt just as well as a damp mop.Q: How often should I be cleaning engineered hard wood floors? A:The short answer is as often as is needed, but like hoovering carpet, once a week is usually a good idea.

Q: What’s the best way to keep dirt off of engineered flooring?sofa cleaning dallas tx A: Place a mat at each entryway for foot-wiping or encourage people in your household to take off their shoes when entering your home.which vacuum cleaner is best for bed bugQ: What kind of mat is best?best budget upright vacuum cleaner 2014 A: Choose a mat that DOES NOT have a rubber backing. The rubber can trap moisture underneath it that might harm your flooring.Q: Is there anything special that should be done in winter? A: Place a mat outside with tough bristles on, so snow and ice can be removed from the treads. Then, do not leave shoes or boots directly on the wood surface in case snow or ice melts from them onto the floor.

A plastic shoe tray works well, but be careful to dry any moisture that might get beneath it.Q: Should engineered floors be waxed? A: It depends on the finish. Most look better with a fresh coat of quality wax. Consult the manufacturer or the installer of the engineered flooring first.Q: Is refinishing engineered hardwood a DIY project? A: It can be, but you should have very good skills to consider doing it.editor's note: We found in our responses that there was some confusion as to the difference between engineered hardwood, laminate, and solid hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood flooring is a product made up of a core of hardwood, plywood or HDF and a top layer of hardwood veneer that is glued on the top surface of the core. Laminate is typically made of High Density Fiber (HDF). The top layer is a photographic layer that should appear identical to the product it replicates, such as wood, vinyl, tile, etc. Solid hardwood is solid wood throughout the entire piece of flooring.

If you're specifically looking for help on cleaning laminate floors, please read the article Cleaning Laminate Floors. I'm looking for advice on cleaning engineered hardwood floors. Dust mopping picks up the fur floating around, but what about the paw prints and shoe prints? I have tried Windex, which is kind of streaky (yet easy). I wasn't sure about something like Murphy Oil Soap or wood polish. Of course, I do not want to make it slippery. I also don't want to "attract" more dirt, marks and prints in a film that I would think these would leave behind. You have to be very careful what kind of cleaner you use when cleaning engineered hardwood floors. What does the manufacturer suggest? For instance, I have Bruce engineered hardwood floors. I was told to use nothing but Bruce Dura-Luster floor cleaner and that other cleaners will ruin the floor. I get this cleaner at Home Depot. Man Cleaning Hardwood Floor photo from Shutterstock I am a professional housekeeper and please don't use Murphy's Oil Soap on wood floors.

I know your mom used to use it, but the wood finishes have changed over the years. The oil soap can penetrate into the wood, and when you have to have them refinished, they have to be sanded down past the oil so the new finish will adhere. Murphy's Oil Soap also reacts with the finish and softens it so it becomes dull over time. The worst thing for wood floors is dirt and sand brought in from outdoors. It will sand the finish and make it dull. Use a good dust mop or vacuum every day. We use plain water, vinegar water or water with a drop or two of liquid dish detergent in the bucket. Wring out mop until almost dry. Never leave standing water on the floor. editor's note: Where hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished many times, engineered floors may be refinished only once or twice. The manufacturers provide the number, which varies depending on the thickness of the top layer and recommend that refinishing be done by a professional. I clean my engineered hardwood floors about every other day.

I use a sponge mop with a wringer apparatus and plain hot water for light cleanups. For heavier cleaning, I use a little anti-bacterial dish detergent in the hot water. This generally takes off everything except dried-on spots, and those respond well to a fingernail. Use a damp mop and never leave water standing on these floors. The manufacturers will claim the floors are waterproof, but this is not true. A cooler was left on the living room floor and it had a leaky drain tap. We now have a swollen board where the water entered the particle board, and it will never entirely flatten. Replace mop heads before they get low enough to scratch the floor. The finishes do scratch and they do chip. I do the same thing that I use on my tile kitchen floor. I have a spray bottle about half full of water. I add approximately one teaspoon of liquid detergent. I spray it lightly on the floor and use a flat "mop" with a terry cloth cover. I find this gets the dirt as well as dust bunnies, doesn't streak, and makes my floors look pretty good.