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Hardwood Care & Maintenance
How to care for and clean hardwood floors.
If you have any additional questions, please call or e-mail us.
Preventive Care
Preventive care is taking steps to protect your hardwood floor from everyday wear and tear, helping you avoid damage before it even happens. These small steps go a long way in keeping hardwood floors looking beautiful for years to come.
- Never use abrasive cleaners, scouring powder, or steel wool. Please refer to Regular Hardwood Maintenance on how to clean a wood floor.
- Place a floor mat or throw rug at outside doorways.
- Place a mat in front of the kitchen sink.
- Never wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood, and leave a discoloring residue.
- Wipe up food and liquid spills immediately preferably with a dry towel or you may use a slightly dampened towel.
- Always make sure furniture legs have large surface, non-staining felt pad floor protectors that are replaced periodically. When moving heavy furniture, completely pick up and carry the furniture to its new location.
- Cleats, sport shoes, or high heels can dent the floor’s surface.
Regular Hardwood Maintenance
Regular hardwood maintenance on your floors involves a consistent cleaning routine to keep them clean, smooth, and free from surface damage caused by everyday use. Routine care not only enhances the look of your floors, but it also helps protect the finish and mitigates long-term wear.
- Regular dust mopping with a microfiber pad or vacuuming is an essential part of wood floor care. A high quality vacuum or dust mop is the most effective tool for cleaning dust and dirt off the floor. Dust or vacuum as necessary to keep grit off the floor.
- Cleaning with vinegar is possibly one of the best kept secrets of the cleaning world. While everybody knows the culinary uses, many don’t realize it can be used as a cost effective way to keep your house sparkling clean. For now, we will focus solely on the benefits of cleaning wood floors. It is important that vinegar is ALWAYS diluted with water before it is applied in order to protect the wood and its finish from any damage.
Cleaning Hardwood with Vinegar
There are many benefits of using vinegar as a cleaning solution in practically every room of the house:
- It’s inexpensive, so there is more money to spend on the more important things in life.
- It’s non-toxic, meaning parents and pet owners can feel comfortable in the knowledge there are no nasty chemicals being used on their floor.
- It is an organic substance, it is created from the fermentation of ethanol, not by mixing heavy or dangerous chemicals. So by using vinegar you are doing something good for the environment.
- While it is a natural substance, it’s also acidic which means it’s a powerful cleaner. Vinegar can dissolve mineral deposits from smooth surfaces, this is why it needs to be diluted with water to ensure no damage occurs to your floors.
- It has anti-bacterial properties. For generations it has been used to combat mold and bacteria.
Which Vinegar Should I Use?
You should only use basic white vinegar diluted in water for cleaning hardwood. White vinegar has no particular color, so will not stain hardwood. Using apple cider vinegar on hardwood floors could potentially cause damage because of its brownish tint. White vinegar is also the most cost-effective floor care option.
How Do I Clean My Wood Floors With Vinegar?
Cleaning your floors with vinegar is a very easy process, no more time consuming than a store bought, chemical laden cleaning solution.
Below we’ve listed the simple steps that should be taken:
- Thoroughly sweep or vacuum your floor. It’s extremely important there is no dust or dirt on the floor because this can lead to scratches.
- Using a ratio of one gallon of warm water to a half cup of white vinegar, fill a clean bucket.
- Plunge a clean mop into the water/vinegar mixture and ensure it’s thoroughly wrung out before mopping.
- Mop away! Make sure you’re mopping in the same direction of the floor boards, if as the water dries it leaves a streak, it will be less visible. Also, change the liquid if it starts to look visibly dirty.
The floors will be fine to let air dry, however if it looks a bit too wet after mopping feel free to remove some excess moisture with a dry, clean towel or cloth. We also recommend keeping pets and children off the floor until it has dried completely. This will ensure a beautiful, shiny, and smudge-free floor.
Once you try this out for yourself and are amazed at the results, be sure to share your new cleaning secret with your family and friends so they can be amazed at their floors as well.
What Are the Best Alternatives to Vinegar for Cleaning Hardwood Floors?
While vinegar is an excellent natural cleaning solution, those with sensitivities to strong smells or concerned about diluting the solution properly may be interested in an alternative option. In this case we recommend Dawn dish soap, especially for sealed hardwood floors.
Unlike many popular commercial hardwood cleaners that look great but can sometimes leave floors too slippery when used, Dawn offers a gentle clean without any leftover residue. Its slight alkalinity (pH ~8-9) allows it to cut through grime effectively while still being mild enough to prevent harming your floor’s protective finish.
Ideal for regular maintenance and spot cleaning, it’s also pet-safe and budget-friendly, making it a practical choice for households that want to avoid harsh chemicals or acidic cleaners. Simply switch the cup of vinegar with a few drops of dawn and follow the same process outlined for cleaning your floors with vinegar.
Seasonal Tips for Hardwood Floor Maintenance in The Bay Area
Hardwood floors in the Bay Area face unique seasonal challenges due to our region’s varied microclimates. Here are some tips to help you proactively care for your floor throughout the year.
Winter: Dry Air Precautions
During cooler months, dry air from heating systems can cause wood to shrink and crack, causing gapping. To help prevent this, a humidifier can be used to maintain your home’s indoor humidity between 30%-50%.
Spring: Deep Cleaning & Seasonal Stress Inspection
Once the winter months come to an end, a thorough deep spring cleaning with the diluted white vinegar solution is a great way to help maintain your hardwood floor. It’s good to take this time to inspect for any signs of seasonal stress such as gapping or finish wear.
Summer: Humidity & UV Protection
During the summer months in the Bay Area, high humidity can cause boards to expand and cup. You can use air conditioning or a dehumidifier to help control indoor moisture, and be on the lookout for any signs of buckling or warping, especially in coastal homes.
For more information on what you can do to manage moisture in your Bay Area home, visit our Hardwood Moisture Protection page.
You might also consider installing UV window treatments to help further protect your hardwood floors from discoloration brought on by the increased sunlight.
Fall: Prepare for Cooler Months
At the end of summer, perform your normal cleaning routine and be sure to inspect for any significant wear from summer traffic. When fall rolls around it’s time to begin preparing for the cooler months to come. You can begin using a humidifier just before the heating season starts to help mitigate plank shrinkage.
Hardwood Floor Care for Pet Owners
Hardwood flooring and pets are a great combination and certainly much easier to maintain than say, carpeting. However, there are still extra precautions to take, and with these tips you’ll be able to maintain pet-friendly hardwood flooring that stays clean and scratch-free for years to come.
How to Protect Hardwood Floors from Pets
- Trim Pet Nails Regularly – Long nails can scratch wooden surfaces, so keeping your pet’s nails trimmed is one of the easiest precautions you can take to protect your floor.
- Clean Pet Stains Immediately – Accidents happen, and that’s okay. Clean spills as soon as you see them using a diluted white vinegar solution to neutralize odors and sanitize the surface.
- Place Food and Water Bowls on Mats – Water spills can cause warping or discoloration, so be sure to use an absorbent mat under bowls to catch drips and splashes.
- Vacuum & Dust Frequently – Pet hair and dander builds up quickly so be sure to use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment on a regular basis to keep your floors clean and reduce allergens.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hardwood Floor Care
How Often Should I Clean Hardwood Floors?
As needed. This will vary from household to household, but a good rule of thumb is to damp mop with vinegar on a biweekly basis, vacuum with a soft brush attachment weekly, sweep daily, and spot clean any spills immediately.
Can I Use Steam Mops on Hardwood Floors?
No. A steam mop will introduce moisture and heat which can cause warping, cupping, or other unsightly damage to your finish. We recommend sticking to dry or lightly damp cleaning methods using vinegar.
How Do I Remove Pet Stains From Hardwood Floors?
Blot accidents as soon as possible with a dry cloth. In case of lingering stains, use a diluted vinegar solution, but avoid soaking the area. If discoloration persists, professional refinishing may be needed.
What’s the Best Cleaner for Hardwood Floors?
We recommend using white vinegar diluted with warm water as your primary cleaner because it’s effective, non-toxic, pet & environmentally friendly. For those who prefer not to use vinegar, we recommend Dawn dish soap as a safe alternative.
Can I Use Dish Soap to Clean Hardwood Floors?
Yes. Dawn dish soap, when properly diluted, is a safe alternative to white vinegar. Simply mix a few drops with a gallon of warm water to create the cleaning solution.
How Do I Clean Hardwood Floors Without Streaks?
Mop in the direction of the wood grain, avoid over-wetting the mop, and change your cleaning solution if it becomes too dirty. Drying the floor with a clean towel if there’s too much moisture will also help prevent streaks and smudges from appearing.
How Do I Protect Hardwood Floors From Scratches?
Use felt pads under furniture legs, avoid walking on floors with cleats or high heals, keep pet nails trimmed, and the floor clear of grit to prevent surface damage.
Refinishing
Even with regular care, hardwood floors can begin to lose their shine over time. If your floor starts looking worn even after regular cleaning it may be time to consider refinishing. This process involves sanding down and then applying a new finish.
Whether you’re looking to restore a classic look or update the finish, our team can help you achieve a smooth, renewed surface. Read more about refinishing wood floors and how Slaughterbeck Floors can help you when it’s time.
Light hardwood floors with a faded finish showing wear before refinishing and routine maintenance.
Restored hardwood floors after a professional refinish and routine cleaning schedule.Beautiful Homes Start with Beautiful Floors. Call us (408) 379-5813
We’re in Campbell, but our customers include larger cities from hardwood flooring in San Jose to engineered hardwood in Palo Alto.
Our full service area includes:
Santa Clara County: Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Campbell, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Palo Alto, San Jose, Saratoga, Stanford, Sunnyvale
San Mateo County: Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, Woodside
Alameda County: Fremont, Newark, Union City (please call for other cities)
Santa Cruz County: Aptos, Capitola, Pasatiempo, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Soquel