Engineered hardwood floors have become one of the most popular flooring options within homes. They look stylish and elegant, and they give a cozy refined touch to any room.
They’re also a lot easier to maintain and keep clean, as they can be easily swept or wiped down. There isn’t usually an issue with stains, unlike with carpets.
The problem is, that while carpets might be harder to clean, they at least hide the dirt a lot better.
On an engineered hardwood floor, if there’s dirt, it’s going to be visible. This might mean that you have to clean more often, but it’s very easy to do so.
How to clean engineered hardwood floors:
The best way to keep your engineered hardwood floors in top shape and condition is to clean them on a regular basis. (Don’t worry, cleaning them doesn’t take very long!)
Here are the main ways of cleaning engineered hardwood floor:
Vacuum:
Using a vacuum cleaner is a fast and easy way to clean your floor within minutes, and it doesn’t take a lot of effort.
Most vacuum cleaners will have a specific setting for hardwood floors so that they don’t cause any damage.
Preferably, use a lightweight or small vacuum cleaner, as you don’t need a lot of power to get rid of the dirt, as it doesn’t attach to the floor in any way.
Sweep:
Sweeping is the classic straightforward of cleaning a floor fast and easy. It will be especially easy on an engineered hardwood floor because the surface is smooth and therefore very easy for you to sweep away any dirt or debris.
As you don’t have to use much strength when sweeping, because the dirt is loose, we recommend you use a softer brush to ensure you don’t damage the top layer of flooring.
Use a damp mop:
You can use a damp mop after you’ve swept or vacuumed the engineered hardwood floor, to ensure it’s 100% clean, and to give it that appealing shine.
For this, it’s better to use a flat mop, rather than the traditional ones. It’s also important for the mop to be damp, and not soaking wet.
If you apply too much water to the floor, the moisture will get trapped and will then damage the wood over time.
Deep clean:
Deep cleaning your engineered hardwood floors isn’t necessary on a regular basis, but it’s good to do once every few months.
For this, you can apply a cleaning product to the floor, as long as it has been specifically manufactured for safe use on hardwood floors.
You can then wipe it away with a damp mop, a cloth, or a damp sponge. Make sure you finish off by drying the floor with a clean dry towel so that no moisture is left behind!
This deep clean will help get rid of any build-up of dirt that is too small to sweep or vacuum away, or even mop away during your regular cleans.
It’s also an opportunity to use products that will enhance the floor and help maintain it for a longer lifespan looking at its best.
What not to do when cleaning engineered hardwood floors:
Knowing how to clean your engineered hardwood floor is important, but knowing how not to clean it can sometimes be even more important!
Here are the main big no’s when it comes to this type of flooring:
- Do Not use a steam cleaner (it will leave too much moisture in the floor and cause it to crack over time, as it’s made out of wood).
- Do Not use ammonia or vinegar-based cleaning products(this can damage the top layer of the engineered hardwood flooring).
- Do Not drag things across the floor when cleaning or use hard-bristle brushes (this type of flooring is very vulnerable to scratching).
In Conclusion
Cleaning your engineered hardwood floors is very easy, and shouldn’t take much of your time. The most important thing to remember is to be gentle, so as to not scratch the floor.
You should also avoid excess water, so that no moisture is left behind and ruins the wood over time, and you should also avoid any ammonia or vinegar-based products.
Instead, vacuum and sweep the floor, or use a slightly damp mop.
