Engineered wood floors are considered the preferred type of flooring for homeowners all over the world. But like all floors, regular cleaning is essential to restore and retain its appeal and quality.
Confused? Well, that’s where I come in! Let me walk you through this guide on how to clean engineered hardwood floors as effectively as possible.
What Are Engineered Hardwood Floors?
Contrary to popular belief, engineered hardwood floors don’t have much in common with solid hardwood flooring. Sure, at first glance, they might look exactly the same, but that’s where their similarities end.
Unlike regular hardwood, engineered hardwood flooring comprises multiple layers of wood. The top layer is of a real hardwood veneer that bonds to high-density fiberboard (HDF) and plywood.
Ultimately, the primary aim of its distinct construction is to ensure and supplement the stability and durability of the flooring. Therefore, it’d be reasonable to deduce why this type of flooring would be ideal for homes in areas with erratic temperatures.
Here’s What You’ll Need to Clean Your Floors
Before jumping headfirst into cleaning your floors, it’s crucial to gather all of your items first. Here’s a list of all the supplies you’ll need:
pH Neutral Hardwood Cleaning Products
A Soft-bristled Broom
Vacuum Cleaner
Microfiber Mops
A Bucket
Floor Polish
Now that you’ve grabbed everything you need, it’s time to turn your floors into the stars of your home!
Ways to Clean Engineered Hardwood Flooring
No matter what type of flooring you’ve installed in your home, it’s imperative that you clean them regularly. Timely and meticulous maintenance is more than enough to keep your floors looking their best at all times. But how exactly do you tackle this?
Well, here’s a proper cleaning and maintenance guide just for you!
Sweep Everyday
The first step of almost every cleaning method is to roughly go over the area to remove any loose dirt. That applies to your hardwood floors too.
Whether you’re going for a deep cleaning or just regular maintenance, grab your soft-bristled brush and go over ever inch of your floor. Make sure to reach all those often-overlooked corners and crevices of your flooring and give it a brush just for good measure.
Vacuum When Necessary
You should also vacuum your floors occasionally to suck up all of those minuscule specks of dust between the grooves of your floor panels. This should help seal the deal and clean up any area you may have missed when sweeping.
Mop On A Regular Basis
Using a damp mop is a phenomenal and foolproof way to clean engineered floors without the use of any cleaning solutions that contain harsh and abrasive chemicals.
Dampen it up a little and mop your area with long, deliberate strokes. Cover the entire surface area of your floor, partially overlapping the cleaned portion of your floor with each stroke.
Keep in mind that mopping with too much water can be detrimental to hardwood floors. This is because the moisture might seep into the wood, causing it to deteriorate. Also, avoid using steam mops as they could pose a threat to your floors.
Employ a Weekly Washing Regimen
It’s important to wash your floors at least twice a week too. Use a microfiber mop or cloth and a floor-friendly, pH neutral cleaning solution of your choice.
If you can’t find one at your local store or prefer using a homemade alternative, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered! Here’s how you can make one yourself that should work exceptionally well on hardwood floors:
Requirements
A Cup of White Vinegar
A Cup of Distilled Water
A Tablespoon of Mild Dish Soap
10 to 15 drops of essential oil for fragrance
Instructions
Combine the Ingredients: Start by mixing together the water and vinegar in a spray bottle. The diluted acidity of the mixture should work well to get rid of those pesky stains that won’t go away no matter what you do.
Add the Soap: Then, add the dish soap. This should help you clean engineered hardwood floors caked with stubborn spots of grime and dirt.
Make It Smell Better: To add some optional fragrance to your mixture, mix in an essential oil of your choice.
Shake It Rigorously: To make sure everything’s mixed together nicely, give it a good shake. Block off any openings while you do so to avoid unnecessary spillage.
Spritz this brilliant homemade floor cleaner over any area of your flooring and dab up the excess moisture with a microfiber cloth. That’s all it takes to keep your floor looking as shiny as it can possibly be.
Polish Every Now & Then
A small amount of polish is all it takes to replenish the shine of your flooring.
However, since you’re dealing with engineered wooden flooring, you can’t just use any polish. Confer with your flooring contractor or mason and look for the best polish that’s specifically meant for synthetic wooden floors like yours.
Don’t forget to look for safety and care labels and follow the product’s instructions. As a precautionary measure, wear a pair of gloves in case the chemicals in the polish are too harsh for human skin.
Refurbish Every 5 Years
Even after following all of these steps to the tee, your hardwood floors are still at risk of getting damaged. Thus, it’s imperative to refurbish them every few years, depending on the amount of wear and tear they sustain.
This process involves sanding the surface with some sandpaper to remove imperfections and scratches. This should help you level out the surface and ensure it looks as good as new.
Make Your Space Look & Feel Cleaner With Shiny Engineered Hardwood Floors
So those are all of the best ways that I could come up with to clean engineered wood floors. To avoid damaging the wood, always remember to consult the floor manufacturer to get a better idea of what you should and shouldn’t use to clean them.
Ultimately, it’s crucial to keep your engineered hardwood floors as neat and tidy as you can if you want it to take your living experience to a whole new level with its marvelous combination of rusticity and elegance. Use the right equipment and cleaning methods, be thorough, and enjoy your freshly rejuvenated space.
