For these types of floors, using a floor mop and specialised floor spray is safe. However, regular maintenance to prevent issues in the first place is better than fixing them after the fact. Older wooden floors As well as cleaning, it also adds shine to surfaces and leaves behind a pleasant, fresh scent. It should be noted, however, that despite its all-purpose labelling, it’s not suitable for waxed or oiled wooden floors. One of the most frustrating things about cleaning with a mop or steam cleaner is the long drying time. If you’re fed up with waiting around to use your floors, this hard floor cleaner is the answer. The ONEPWR washes, vacuums and dries simultaneously, cutting down cleaning and drying times significantly. While both are suitable for hard floors, their cleaning methods differ. Steam cleaners eliminate dirt using only tap water, converting it into hot steam as they go. They can also be used on carpets, surfaces like windows and bathroom screens and upholstery. As well as cleaning, buffing and adding a protective layer to wood, ceramic tile, marble, slate and linoleum floors, this clever cleaner fills small surface scratches on well-loved areas of flooring.

For general upkeep and good practice, sweep and vacuum your hardwood floors a minimum of once a week. This helps avoid a build-up of grime, dust, and grit, all of which scratch the surface of the floor and damage the finish.

Best specialist wood floor cleaners

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If it's also a wet cleaner, then testers analyse how well it lifts a variety of set-in and fresh stains, including wine, tea and mud. They assess whether it dries as it goes, too. Finally, if it cleans carpets, then they also test this feature, again using common household stains. For older wooden floors, a top seal created by oil or wax, which is absorbed by the grain until it hardens, is the most common finish. Like oiled or wax wooden floors, lacquered or varnished finishes don’t handle moisture or wear and tear as well as their polyurethane alternatives. This means they require the same level of care and attention. Avoid using liquids or harsh chemicals and opt for greener options instead. In testing, it was able to vacuum up larger debris like bits of cereal with ease, as well as smaller bits of dirt around the house. It doesn’t flood the cleaning rollers with water either, so you won’t find yourself with a soaking floor or needing to refill it every ten minutes. While it didn’t leave the floor fully dry, it was dry enough to be used as usual within a couple of minutes. Routine maintenance for wood flooring is fairly simple. According to Miller, you should sweep with a broom or microfiber mop daily to prevent debris from scratching the floors, use a vacuum (on the bare floor setting) once a week or as necessary, and clean monthly with a professional wood floor-cleaning product.

From bookshelves and table tops to antique wooden furniture, wood requires a special type of furniture polish to ensure you not only get rid of dust and dirt but also provide ongoing protection for the surface of the furniture.