Wooden floors are a beautiful addition to almost any house. Whether it is laminate or hardwood, the finish they give is great and the added cleanliness of wood over carpet is great. Many people however think they are extremely difficult to clean and that they require a lot of care to maintain. This however, is simply not true. Most hardwood floors are now treated with a polyurethane finish making them very easy to clean and laminate floors also have a protective layer.

Hardwood floors – 

Goodhousekeeping.com has a great guide on how to clean hardwood floors which we will go through here. They recommend using Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Spray, a microfiber mop and baking soda. Hardwood floors should be cleaned every one or two months. To do this simply spray the cleaner over an area approximately 3 foot squared and go over it using the microfiber mop to pick up the dissolved dirt. Ensure the mop is never very wet. A damp mop or cloth will work but never use a wet mop as the grain can raise and the wood can warp. 

When you come across a light scuff, the area can be buffed using a dry microfiber cloth or something as simple as a sock. If the scuff does not get removed through buffing you can rub the area using some baking powder and a damp cloth. Once applied rinse clean with a damp paper towel and leave until thoroughly dry. 

Laminate – 

When dealing with any kind of wooden floor one thing to remember is that wood and moisture do not work well together. If you remember this then cleaning any kind of wooden surface becomes relatively simple. Shawfloors.com has a great list of tips showing what to and what not to do when cleaning laminate floors.

• Do not use steam cleaners or wet mops for the reasons mentioned above.
• Clean spills as soon as they happen by blotting with a damp cloth. 
• For tough stains such as oil, paint or ink, use acetone or nail polish remover on a cloth. Follow this with a wipe using a damp cloth and leave to dry.
• Vacuum regularly to remove any dust and particle buildup. 
• Never use soaps or detergents to clean laminates as they can warp or swell the flooring. 
• Do not use a buffing or polishing machine on laminate floors. 
• If things such as wax or gum get on your floor, you should cool the area using ice and then lightly scrape the substance off using a plastic scraper such as a credit card (do not use any card you actively use or care about). Pay special attention to not scratch the floor when doing this. 
• Dust mop and vacuum regularly

These tips are all from shawfloors.com. Laminate flooring should also be cleaned periodically using products specially designed for laminate floors. These products vary and should be used according to their own guidelines. 

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