Natural Ways to Clean Pre-Finished Floors

Regular Maintenance

• The best way to keep prefinished floors looking good every day is simple sweeping. Use a soft-bristled broom, conventional dust mop with a cotton or microfiber head or a vacuum cleaner that can be adjusted for hardwood cleaning. Regularly removing dirt and debris prevents scratching or pitting the floor and helps maintain its glossy surface.

Mopping Guidelines

• Despite the numerous layers of protective coatings on prefinished floors, they should not be wet-mopped. Even the slightest amount of seepage between the floor planks or boards will dull the surface, discolor the wood or permanently warp or damage the wood or subflooring. Damp mopping is acceptable, providing the mop head is wrung as dry as possible. If you're using a mop with a sponge head, manually squeeze as much water as possible from the sponge. If the floor has been regularly maintained by sweeping, then using clear, clean water will suffice. You can add a small amount of white vinegar, lemon juice or mild dishwashing liquid to the water but the solution must be highly diluted to protect the finish. Some prefinished floor manufacturers sell natural, chemical-free solutions that can be mixed with water for damp mopping. For the best results, mop the floor once to soften the surface dirt, rinse the mop, wring it as dry as possible and go over the floor again. To give the surface extra sheen, dry it with a cotton cloth attached to a sponge mop head.

Scuff and Stain Removal

• No matter how much you pamper your prefinished floor, it’s bound to become scuffed or stained. To remove these blemishes, wet a small sponge and apply a sprinkle of baking soda to the surface. Gently remove the stain by softly rubbing it, then rinse it with a sponge soaked with clean water and wrung dry. To avoid stains or discoloration, quickly wipe up spills or pet accidents.

Protective Measures

• Small, decorative throw rugs protect prefinished floors, especially in high traffic areas where they trap dirt and prevent it from spreading to the wood floor. If the floor is in a kitchen or bathroom, place rugs in front of sinks and tubs to catch water splashes and spills. Place glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scratches, and lift furniture when you move it rather than sliding it across the floor. Kindly ask people wearing high heels or shoes with cleats to remove their footwear prior to entering the room.