The hardwood floors of the old houses give it a warm and earthy vibe. Keeping it impressive and long-lasting takes a bit of care though. Wood floors may be gorgeous, but they tend to be expensive, and the last thing you want is to ruin it by using substandard cleaning products.
Nevertheless, their maintenance is not as expensive as you think. Bringing out the beauty of your hardwood flooring does not always require the process of staining and sanding, especially if they’re not damaged. You can always keep it shiny and clean by utilizing the best mop available in the market. And you don’t even need to use a lot of water or harsh chemicals which can weaken it.
Find out on this guide on how you can clean your wood floors and how to keep them at their tip-top condition at all times.
Guide For The Best Mop To Use For Wood Floors
You have some pretty good mop choices out there, but the best one for your hardwood floors is a microfiber mop. It is highly recommended because of its power to attract and hold dirt and even liquids compared to conventional mops. It is highly effective because of its shape.
Furthermore, it functions just like a squeegee where dirt is picked up and retained rather than dragging it around your surface. But if you have the budget, you may want to consider investing in high-tech mops which lift off dirt and grime and give your floors that polished look with little effort from you.
Keep in mind that to avoid using harsh chemicals and opt for natural methods of cleaning as much as possible. If you have to use a cleaning agent, make sure to read its label and purchase those specially made for sealed floors. Also, do not immerse your hardwood floors with too much water, instead only damp mop it. Read this step-by-step guide from WikiHow on how to revive your old floors back to life.
Here are the best mops to use for your old wood floors:
- O-Cedar Microfiber Spin Mop and Bucket
The best way to avoid using harsh cleaning detergents and too much water when mopping your wood floors is by using a microfiber spin mop like the O-Cedar Microfiber Spin Mop and Bucket. This modern take of the classic mop and bucket system comes with a built into it and a foot pedal on its bucket for removing excess water from the mop easily. This means that your arms and hands will not get a workout like what you’d get from a traditional one.
You can wring out as much water as you’d like to ensure that the microfiber pad is just damp enough for safe use on sealed floors. Its bucket also features a splash guard which will prevent any water from spilling out to your floors. Its triangular head, on the other hand, makes hard-to-reach areas accessible.
- Mr. Siga Professional Wet and Dry Microfiber Mop
Mops get in contact with plenty of germs and bacteria each time you use it. One of the advantages of this mop is that you can remove and wash its cloth pad, and reuse it as many times as you’d want. It features a pole that you can swivel at 360-degrees with an adjustable height for reaching tight areas.
The mop pad of Mr. Siga Professional is double-sided. The microfiber side in color blue is excellent at picking up hairs and dust, and you can use it for both dry and wet mopping. The plush material on the other side is for waxing your floors to shiny perfection. It also comes with a scrubbing pad for dirt removal such as caked-on grubs.
- Bissell Spinwave Electric-Powered Hardwood Floor Mop and Cleaner
If you’re looking for the easiest way to clean your old hardwood floors, then the Spinwave Mop and Cleaner is for you. This powerful cleaning machine can efficiently scrub your soiled wood floors without leaving a single scratch. It comes with scrub pads for tackling messes and soft touch pads for light mopping and cleaning. Its built-in cleaning spray disperses just enough mist for the job at hand without covering your wood floors with too much liquid.
The dual rotating spin pads of the Spinwave can also lessen your time cleaning your floors. You also purchase one of Bissell’s multi-surface cleaning solution which you can add to its tank. Don’t worry they are safe for sealed woods and other types of floors. This mop may be pricier, but the cleaning convenience it offers is worth the investment.
Restoring Your Floors By Deep-Cleaning
Deep-cleaning is a superb method to revive the glory of your old hardwood floors. Here’s how you can do it:
- The first thing you need to do is to sweep your floors thoroughly using a broom with soft bristles. Do not use those with stiff bristles since it can leave scratches on the surface of your floors.
- Bring out your vacuum to get rid of dirt from hard-to-reach areas such as between floorboards and corners of the room.
- Mop the surface using a microfiber mop with a cleaning agent made especially for hardwood floors. Never use products that create suds.
Do the following to keep your old floors at its best condition:
- Clean them at least three times a week using a microfiber mop or vacuum.
- Deep-clean every month.
- Hire a professional to deep-clean it once a year.
Best Floor Finish
You have a choice to have a glossy or satin finish for your wood floors. Although a glossy finish is especially attractive, satin finishes have been the popular choice these days particularly in homes with little kids. The reason for this is because a satin finish is not slippery compared to its shiny counterpart.
Moreover, coatings that are urethane-based are more durable than waxed floors. Also, those polyurethane finishes which are water-based have lower VOC making them safer to inhale and less stinky compared to oil-based type.