
The Supplies You'll Need
Nearly every product you’ll need to clean your floors can be purchased at a typical department store. All the materials are readily available and affordable, making your cleaning job that much easier. In general, you’ll need:
A Soft Bristle Broom or Vacuum
Microfiber Mop
Water and a Bucket
Hardwood Flooring Cleaner
Dry, Microfiber Cloths
Finishing Polish

FAQs About Cleaning Hardwood Floors
The most effective way to clean the cracks and gaps in your hardwood flooring is with a vacuum cleaner. Be sure to use a vacuum with an attachment that will adequately suck up all the dirt and grime. If grime is particularly solid, use a putty knife to scrape it up beforehand.
When cleaning your hardwood, be sure to use non-abrasive and gentle cleaning tools. Additionally, ensure that you’re using soft bristled brushes on your brooms and vacuum cleaner. When it comes to chemicals, be sure to specifically pick hardwood floor cleaners that have a neutral pH level of around 7.
Despite white vinegar and baking soda appearing like a natural cleaning remedy, they can easily cause damage to your hardwood. Too strong of a solution can dull the polyurethane coating, so always opt for dedicated hardwood cleaners. Never steam clean your flooring, as the excessive moisture can severely damage it.
Yes. Dish soap is a mild cleaning solution that can be safely used to clean hardwood floors. For best results, mix ¼ cup of dish soap into a bucket of warm water. After mopping with Dawn, mop again with just water to remove the excess soap. Finally, thoroughly dry with a soft washcloth for a streak-free shine. If you’re concerned about not voiding your specific warranty, please check with to verify your warranty won’t be voided when using these methods.
Abrasive tools and chemicals are guaranteed to damage your hardwood. If vacuuming, be sure to turn off the bristle brush. While this attachment is fantastic for cleaning carpets and other thick surfaces, it will easily scratch your hardwood flooring. Along these lines, also avoid harsh brooms that are intended for more durable surfaces like kitchen tile.
Yes, it is 100% safe to mop your hardwood flooring with water, so long as you adequately ring it out before use. If you use too much water, it can easily seep into the cracks between panels, resulting in water damage over time. For best results, use a gentle, microfiber mop that won’t soak up too much additional liquid.
While sweeping should be done daily when possible, mopping can be completed less frequently. In high-traffic areas, try to do a quick mop at least once or twice a week. For less trafficked areas like the back corners of rooms and bedrooms, hardwood floors can be mopped as little as once a month.
Over washing and using improper chemicals is a leading cause of dirty-looking hardwood. Harsh chemicals remove the manufacturer’s varnish, causing the flooring to lose its original luster. In addition, not protecting the floor in high-traffic areas can lead to a dirty appearance. Consider covering these areas with hardwood-friendly area rugs.
Hardwood floors can be kept looking new with a religious cleaning regime. Dust and surface dirt can be easily removed every day with a gentle broom. Keeping up on weekly mopping, and adequately drying the floors with a soft washcloth will keep your floors looking shiny and streak-free, in addition to using the proper chemicals.
No, harsh scrub brushes should never be used on hardwood. These brushes are specifically designed for more abrasive applications like bathroom and kitchen tiling. Using a hard bristled brush on your hardwood is a sure-fire way to leave lasting scratches and gouges. Always opt for more gentle methods when cleaning your floors.
The best way to reduce streaking when cleaning your hardwood is to adequately dry it with a non-abrasive washcloth afterward. Moving in a tight circular pattern, dry the entire floor, ensuring to soak up any areas with excessive moisture. Hardwood polish can also be applied at this stage for some extra shine.
Cleaning an engineered hardwood floor involves the same process as regularly hardwood, but easier! With engineered wood, you don’t have to be overly concerned with the harshness of the chemicals. In some cases, it’s even fine to use vinegar. Overall, the cleaning process is the same. If you’re concerned about not voiding your specific warranty, please check with to verify your warranty won’t be voided when using these methods.
Keeping Your Hardwood Floors Clean Has Never Been Easier

Cleaning your hardwood floors may have seemed like a daunting task, but with this comprehensive guide, it’s made easy. By maintaining your floors with a proper cleaning schedule, and by utilizing the right chemicals, your hardwood will look like the day it arrived for decades to come.
Considering installing hardwood into your home? Browse our complete flooring collection for some inspiring examples.