How do I clean wooden floors?

Wood and laminate floors are damaged by water more than by anything else. Water sits in the joints between boards, swells the core and lifts the edges, and on laminate that damage is permanent. Everything below is about cleaning effectively while keeping the floor as dry as possible.

What you'll need

• Vacuum or soft broom
• Flat microfibre mop
• Floor cleaner suited to the finish
• Bucket (optional)

Step by step

1. Identify the finish — oiled, lacquered, or laminate.Oiled floors need oil-based cleaners and periodic re-oiling. Lacquered and laminate need pH-neutral cleaners and no oil.
2. Sweep or vacuum thoroughly first, using a hard-floor setting.Grit is what scratches a wooden floor. Removing it dry is more important than the mopping.
3. Use a flat microfibre mop, wrung out until barely damp.If you can see wet streaks that don't evaporate within a minute, it's too wet.
4. Use a cleaner made for the finish, at the stated dilution.Too much product leaves a film that dulls the floor and attracts dirt.
5. Mop along the grain, in the direction of the boards.It hides any streaking and follows the joints rather than pushing water across them.
6. Deal with spills immediately.Standing water on a wooden or laminate floor causes swelling within hours.
7. For oiled floors, re-oil periodically as the manufacturer recommends.Typically annually in high-traffic areas. It's what maintains the protective layer.
8. Use felt pads under furniture and mats at doorways.Prevention: grit at the door and furniture legs cause most of the wear on a wooden floor.

Tips

• Steam mops are widely sold and widely advised against for wood and laminate — the heat and moisture can penetrate joints and damage the finish. Check the flooring manufacturer's guidance, which usually prohibits them.
• Vinegar is often recommended and is acidic enough to dull some lacquered finishes over time. A pH-neutral floor cleaner is safer.
• A doormat inside and outside each external door removes most of the grit that causes scratching.
• Water damage shows as raised, dark joints between boards. If you see it, find the moisture source immediately.

Common mistakes

• Using a wet mop — Water penetrates the joints and swells the core, which is permanent on laminate.
• Using a steam mop — Most flooring manufacturers advise against it, and it can void warranties as well as damage the floor.
• Vacuuming with a beater bar on hard floors — It can scratch the finish. Use the hard-floor setting.
• Not sweeping before mopping — You drag grit across the finish, which is what causes fine scratching over time.

Questions people ask