Tools and Materials
Key Takeaways
- Even if you clean your wood floors regularly, periodic deep cleaning is necessary to get rid of accumulated grime and grit.
- Always follow the floor manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaners and cleaning steps.
- Most modern hardwood floors have a waterproof surface finish, but wood floors installed prior to the 1920s might have a penetrating finish that’s more vulnerable to moisture.
- A pH-neutral hardwood floor cleaner is best, but make sure it’s suitable for your finish type.
- Before applying a cleaner, remove dirt and debris with a dust mop or a vacuum designed for wood floors.
- Apply cleaner to a surface-finish floor with a spray bottle but use a slightly damp mop to apply a penetrating finish cleaner.
- After cleaning, allow the floor to air dry.
- Keep your floors beautiful with regular cleaning and consider having them resurfaced every 10 years.
Do I Need to Deep Clean Hardwood Floors?
Even if you keep up with daily and weekly floor care by dusting and spot cleaning, periodic deep cleaning is necessary to remove grime and cleaner buildup, as well as grit that can accumulate between the floor planks.
It’s a good idea to plan on deep cleaning wood floors at least once a year but depending on factors such as the amount of foot traffic your floors get and the presence of children and pets, your floors might need deep cleaning more frequently.
Determine Your Hardwood Floor Finish
The right way to deep clean wood floors depends on the type of floor finish.
Surface Finish
A surface finish is typical for modern hardwood floors, creating a waterproof barrier that causes liquids to pool on the surface rather than seep into the wood.
- A surface finish makes wood floors more durable and easier to maintain.
- The most common residential surface finishes include polyurethane and water-based or moisture-cured urethane.
Penetrating Finish
Also known as oil finishes, penetrating finishes are absorbed by the wood flooring.
- Penetrating finishes aren’t common, but if your wood floor was installed prior to the 1920s and hasn’t been refinished, it probably has a penetrating finish.
- Floors with a penetrating finish are typically coated with a layer of floor wax.
- The wax and finish don’t completely seal the wood, so liquid can cause the planks to expand and warp.
Which Finish Do My Hardwood Floors Have?
If you’re not sure if your floor has a surface finish or a penetrating finish, you can use a water test to find out:
- Pour a small amount of water onto the planks and see how it reacts before quickly wiping it away.
- If the water pools, you probably have a surface finish.
- If the planks begin to absorb the water, you probably have a penetrating finish.
Choose the Best Cleaning Solution for Your Hardwood Floor
The best cleaner for any type of hardwood flooring is a pH-neutral cleaner specifically formulated for hardwood floors. Cleaners that are too acidic or too alkaline can leave residues that make wood floors look dull. In addition to choosing a pH-neutral cleaner, make sure it’s suitable for your finish type:
- If your floors have a surface finish, it’s safe to use water-based cleaners.
- If your floors have a penetrating finish, use low-moisture products and only use a product formulated for the finish.
Test the cleaner in an inconspicuous area, such as inside a closet, to ensure it works with your floor. With any type of finish, it’s usually best to avoid cleaners with:
- Vinegar
- Wax
- Abrasives
- Harsh chemicals like ammonia or bleach
Before using any cleaner, check the product and flooring manufacturers’ instructions to ensure the cleaner is right for your floor. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any floor-care products, cleaning products or other chemicals, including guidelines for safety gear.
Deep Clean Your Hardwood Floors
Use these general steps as a guide for planning your work. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions for your specific flooring. If you don’t have your floor care instructions, look for them on our hardwood flooring pages or on the manufacturer’s website.
Step 1: Dust or Vacuum the Floor
Working along the length of the planks, use a dry microfiber dust mop or a vacuum cleaner to get rid of dirt and debris. If you use a vacuum, make sure the vacuum or attachment is suitable for hardwood floors and either doesn't have a beater bar or allows you to turn the beater bar off.
Step 2: Mop the Floor
After you remove surface debris, you can mop your hardwood floors with the appropriate cleaner for your floor finish. Use a soft microfiber wet mop along the length of the floorboards.
The mopping process varies depending on your floor finish:
- For floors with a surface finish, apply the cleaner lightly with a spray bottle, a small section at a time, and mop the cleaner away immediately.
- For floors with a penetrating finish, apply the cleaner with a slightly damp mop pad.
Once you finish mopping, let the floor air dry completely before allowing foot traffic.
Don’t allow the mop pad to become saturated and don’t allow the cleaner to pool. Too much moisture can damage the floor.
Keep Your Floors Looking New
Keep your floor in top shape and make deep cleaning easier with our tips for caring for and maintaining a hardwood floor throughout the year. To truly return your floor to its original beauty, refinish your floor as needed. Refinishing a wood floor is a big job, but if you decide to take it on yourself, our hardwood floor refinishing project tells you factors you need to consider and shows you how to refinish a floor step by step.
Deep Clean Your Hardwood Floors to Keep Them Beautiful
Periodic deep cleaning removes dirt, grime and grit to restore the warmth and beauty of the wood and protect it from scratches. Shop Lowes.com for cleaning tools and supplies you need to maintain a beautiful hardwood floor or visit your local Lowe’s and talk to a Red Vest associate. They can show you the cleaning products that work best for you and make sure you have everything you need to keep your hardwood floors in top shape.
FAQs on Deep Cleaning Hardwood Floors
Use the answers to these common cleaning questions to protect your hardwood floors and maintain their beauty.
Is a Steam Mop Safe for Hardwood Floors?
Most wood floor manufacturers don’t recommend using a steam mop on their hardwood floors. Warping and other damage caused by steam mops aren’t typically covered in hardwood floor warranties and in some cases, using a steam mop might void the warranty. Only use a steam mop if recommended in your floor cleaning and maintenance information and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
How Do I Deep Clean Engineered Hardwood Floors?
The steps for deep cleaning an engineered hardwood floor are the same as those for a standard hardwood floor with a surface finish. Dry mop or vacuum the floor to remove loose dirt, then spray cleaner on a small section of floor and mop it up quickly with a microfiber mop. Avoid excess moisture. The construction of engineered hardwood makes it particularly vulnerable to moisture damage.
How Often Should I Deep Clean My Hardwood Floors?
In general, it’s a good idea to deep clean hardwood floors at least once a year, but if you have pets or kids or if your floor gets lots of traffic, you might need to deep clean more frequently. On the other hand, rooms that don’t get much foot traffic might need deep cleaning less frequently.
Can You Make a DIY Cleaner for Hardwood Floors?
Mixing your own cleaning solution for wood floors can be risky. The acidity in most homemade cleaning solutions, such as those that include vinegar, breaks down the surface finish, eventually allowing moisture to seep into the wood.