Wooden floors are a major investment―and yet they take such a beating: We walk all over them, track dirt onto them, and still expect them to gleam at the end of the day. This video shows how to attain spotless floors without damaging them in the process. Clear the floor area of any furniture that’s easy to move. Tip: Invest in furniture pads—they make moving furniture much easier, and prevent your wood floors from getting scuffed. Dry-mop or vacuum floor This gets rid of all surface dirt and debris. Mop floor, going with the grain If your floors are polyurethaned, dampen a mop with water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Be sure to ring out the mop thoroughly before using it on the floor. Run the mop back and forth, going with the grain of the wood in smooth strokes. Tip: If your floors are lacquered or shellacked, don’t use water, which can stain the wood and cause buckling. Buff floor with a cloth To lift soapy residue after mopping and make your floor shine, hold a soft cloth in your hand and use it to rub the floor gently in a circular motion.

Use a wood-floor cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Tip: Cloth diapers work well for buffing, because they’re very soft and absorbent.WoodfloorOlive OilsHousehold HintsHelpful HouseholdHousehold CuresHousehold RecipesHousehold CleanersHousehold StuffHousehold IdeasForwardI don't believe this before I have tried it... just pinning it to remember it later.air vent cleaning sprayArmstrong wants you to enjoy your hardwood floor for many years. best vacuum cleaner uprightTo help you maintain that "like new" look, we asked cleaningwhole house air duct cleaning cost expert Melissa Maker, star of the YouTube channel Clean My Space, to give you a few simple cleaning tips for hardwood floors.

Follow these tips from Melissa, and you'll keep your hardwood floor in tiptop shape! Sweep, dust mop, or vacuum regularly using the wand attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Clean your hardwood floor occasionally using a mop and Armstrong Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner or Bruce Hardwood & Laminate To revive an older floor, apply one or more coats of Armstrong Restore Hardwood Floor Finish or Bruce Fresh Finish™, or Bruce Fresh Finish™ Low Gloss. More Hardwood Floor Care Tips Wipe up spills immediately. Place a natural or colorfast mat at outside entrances to reduce the amount of dirt and moisture tracked into your home. Keep animal nails trimmed to prevent scratches. Use Armstrong Floor Protectors on furniture legs to reduce indentations. Protect your floor from direct sunlight. DON'T wear shoes with spike heels or heel taps on your hardwood floor. Remove shoes at the door to avoid potentially dragging in sharp objects in your shoe treads.

DON'T use: ammonia-based cleaners, wax-based products, detergents, bleach, polishes, oil soaps, abrasive cleaning soaps, or acidic materials like vinegar. 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.

Vinegar, for example, can eat away at finish, even when diluted with water. Use a washable microfiber pad, which will remove bacteria and keep waste out of landfills. 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. Vinegar and water will dull the floor’s finish over time, while soap or wax will leave a residue. Steam cleaners put heat and excessive water on your floor, which can lead to cupping and long-term damage. 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.How to Clean Wood Floors & Maintenance Remember, like any floor covering, our factory finished wood floors will show signs of wear over time, depending on the size and lifestyle of your family. By observing a few precautions and setting up a regular cleaning routine and maintenance program, you can expect years of beauty from your Anderson floor. The following are examples of the reasonable and necessary maintenance you are expected to perform. They are not intended to be an exclusive list.

Sweep or vacuum regularly since built-up grit can damage the surface of the wood. The vacuum head must be a brush or felt type. Be certain the wheels of the vacuum are clean and do not damage the finish. Do not use a vacuum with a beater bar head. Remove spills promptly using a soft cloth and cleaning products recommended by Anderson. Never wet-mop, damp-mop, or clean your floor with water or other products. This can severely damage the flooring and will void the warranties. Do not use hardwood floor cleaning machines or steam cleaners. See section on Improper Maintenance. Use Shaw R2X Hardwood floor cleaner with a terry cloth mop. Always vacuum the floors prior to using cleaner. Do not allow excess cleaner to remain on the floors surface as this may permanently damage the wood fiber. Important: Do not use oil soaps, liquid or paste wax products or other household cleaners that contain citrus oils, lemon oil, tung oil, silicon, or ammonia since these warranties do not cover damage caused by non recommended products.

Use of these and other such products will harm the long-term performance of your floor and may also affect its recoat ability. Do not use 2 in 1 cleaners with polish that may contain acrylics or urethane polish to restore gloss – the use of these products will void the finish warranty and may produce unsatisfactory results when not applied properly. Keep pets’ nails trimmed, and paws clean and free of dirt, gravel, grease, oil, and stains. Place protective felt pads beneath furniture legs and feet to reduce scratches and dents. Replace pads as needed. Use a dolly and protective sheets of plywood when moving heavy objects, furniture, or appliances. Make certain furniture casters are clean and operate properly (a minimum 1” wide vinyl surface where it comes in contact with wood is recommended). Clean wheels periodically to remove dirt and debris. Remove shoes with spiked or damaged heels before walking on floor. Exposure to the sun and its UV rays accelerates the oxidation and aging of wood.