How To Clean Timber Floors Naturally
If you’re wondering how to properly care for your wood floors, the solution is to clean them frequently and meticulously. After all, our floors are the ones that take the most abuse in our homes. Consider the amount of dust, filth, grime, and debris you bring in from the outside. Having unclean wood floors is unhygienic and may also damage the floor in the future.
Cleaning wood floors should not be taken lightly as there are proper procedures for cleaning them. You may end up damaging your floor if you are not knowledgeable on what could damage it. Here are some effective tips you may find helpful to keep your timber floors clean while maintaining their quality.
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Cleaning Timber Wood Floors
Homemade cleaning solutions are available for nearly every surface and area of the home, including wood floors. You should try homemade cleaning tips for your hardwood floor. But, before you choose a DIY wood floor cleaner to attempt, you need to know what sort of floor you have and how it’s treated and sealed.
Do not use water on waxed floors. Water should be used specifically on other types of wood floors and finishes. Saturating a wood floor or allowing water to stand can harm it. If you have any questions regarding how to clean your wood flooring, consult with your manufacturer.
Wood floors are well-known for being low-maintenance, and most of the time, a light wet mopping with a little warm water is all that is required for normal cleaning. Steam mopping is popular these days since it may kill germs, remove pet odours, and make your floors look cleaner and brand-new. This is due to the heat generated during the cleaning process. They are also safer because they just use pure hot water to clean the floor rather than using chemicals that are not safe for your family.
Cleaning Sealed Hardwood Floors
Sealed hardwood floors can withstand the heat of a steam mop, allowing you to completely clean your floor without any problem. On the other end, because unsealed hardwoods are more fragile and sensitive to excessive moisture, they should not be cleaned with a steam mop. The steam from the mop would infiltrate the wood and absorb the water from the steam that may cause future problems on the flooring. Besides sealed and unsealed hardwood floors, it is worth knowing how to clean floating timber floors.
DIY Wood Floor Cleaner Ingredients
Wood flooring is wonderful. Keep in mind that you should not just apply any old cleaner on them and call it a day. When cleaning dirt, scuff marks, or grease, you must use the utmost caution. This does not imply that you must spend a fortune on industrial cleaners. Instead, you may make them yourself out of a few basic components.
Although wood floors may add to the attractiveness of a home’s interior design, they can be difficult to clean and maintain. Many individuals choose DIY cleaning solutions for a variety of reasons, including cost and the desire to have control over the products used.
It might be difficult to clean hardwood flooring. These 7 methods make it simple to clean any type of wood floor without damaging it.
Vinegar and Water
Vinegar can be used to effectively remove dirt from wood floors. Warm water and vinegar, two simple chemicals, are all you need to clean and shine your floors.
Vinegar, Water, and Essential Oils
When you’re ready to mop, combine vinegar, water, and essential oil to give a pleasant aroma to your cleaning solutions. Essential oils are available in a variety of scents, so add a few drops of your favorite to your solution for an extra sensation of cleanliness.
Vinegar and Olive Oil
If you’re worried about using water on your wood floors, or if water isn’t advised for the sort of floor finish you have, you might be interested in this DIY remedy that only utilises vinegar and vegetable oil. Having a spray bottle would be a good idea to spray the mixed solution on your floor evenly.
Organic Liquid Soap, Vinegar, and Water
This easy-to-make yet powerful cleanser combines plant-based liquid soap, vinegar, and water, with the option of adding essential oils. If your floor is filthy, this might be an excellent option.
Tea Bags
Can you use tea bags to clean your wood floors? Yes, regular tea bags can clean your wood floors while also adding sheen and luster. Instead of reaching for an expensive industrial floor cleaning product the next time you make tea, brew a couple of extra bags for your floor.
Lime Juice, Olive Oil, and Warm Water
This mix of lemon juice, olive oil, and hot water may seem more like a salad dressing than a wood floor cleaner, but it promises to clean your floors while leaving a rich shine behind.
Dish Soap, Water, and Vinegar
If you have laminate flooring, you might be interested in this DIY cleaning method, which involves using water, vinegar, and dish detergent, as well as a microfiber mop or sponge.
Cleaning Wood Floors With Vinegar
Cleaning wood floors with vinegar is not only natural and simple, but it is also one of the most effective methods. When used correctly, vinegar is safe for hardwood floors but there are a few things you should be aware of.
Check that you’re using the appropriate sort of vinegar. White vinegar is excellent for disinfecting and cleaning hardwood floors. Cleaning vinegar has a greater acid content than normal vinegar. You can use other types of vinegar except for red wine or balsamic vinegar.
Step One: Clean the floor
Before you start cleaning, move all of the furniture in the room out of the way. Furniture pads are the greatest method to make this process as simple as possible while avoiding damage.
Step Two: Eliminate dust and debris
Clean the surface of your wood floors to eliminate any dust particles after the floor is clear. The safest method is to use a microfiber dust mop. If you prefer to vacuum, ensure sure there isn’t any stuck-on dirt on the underside of the device that might cause scratches before you begin cleaning. If there is, make sure it is disconnected and completely clean it.
Step Three: Use a homemade vinegar solution
Filling a bucket halfway with a solution of one gallon of hot water and one cup of white vinegar. The acidity of the vinegar may kill moulds and germs without you worrying about the health risk since vinegar is a natural solution.
Step Four: Wax or polish
When the floors are clean and dry, use a floor polish or wax to make them sparkle.
Lemon Oil For Cleaning Wood Floors
While using vinegar and water to clean wood floors is great, it is not the only natural alternative. If you enjoy the cleaning power of vinegar but don’t like the scent, simply add a few drops of essential oil, such as lemon. Lemon oil also helps to reduce grease, which may be beneficial for cleaning wood floors in a kitchen. It’s also a wonderful disinfectant, which is something you should think about if you have dogs that leave their mess and odour on the floor.
Removing Hardwood Floor Stains
Before attempting to get rid of a stain from wood flooring, consider the finish of your flooring. If the stain is on the floor’s surface, it most likely has a hard finish, such as urethane. If the finish stain has permeated the wood, the floor most likely has a soft oiled finish, which is typical in older homes with floors that have not been refinished and resealed. Surface stains on hard-finish floors should be wiped away with a soft, clean cloth. Sandpaper, steel wool, and strong chemicals should never be used since they can permanently harm the finish.
The treatments listed below are for hardwood floors with soft oiled surfaces. End each treatment by staining the wood, then waxing and polishing the patch to match the rest of the floor if necessary.
- Remove pet stains and dark spots. If the area is still dark, add bleach or vinegar and let it sink into the wood for approximately an hour. Rinse well with a wet towel.
- Remove heel marks by rubbing in wax with fine wire wool.
- Remove oil stains by rubbing the affected area with a soft cloth and dish soap to break down the grease. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. If one application does not work, try again. Children and dogs should be kept out of the space until you’re finished. Allow the area to dry before smoothing the elevated grain with fine sandpaper.
- Remove watermarks or white spots by lightly sanding the floor and cleaning with fine steel wool and odourless mineral spirits.
Advantages Of Natural Wood Floor Cleaning
Naturally, you will have to maintain your hardwood floors at some point. Cleaning and polishing wooden floors may appear to some to be a chore, if not a waste of time. Regular wood floor cleaning, on the other hand, may help keep your floors looking wonderful for a longer period. Here are several advantages to having your wood floors cleaned, buffed, and shined regularly:
Keeps floors healthy and attractive
The first advantage of wood floor cleaning is that it may significantly increase the overall life expectancy of your flooring while also reducing the need for more expensive maintenance or repairs in the future. Wood dries up and becomes brittle over time. Regular cleaning and polishing help to eliminate the indications of wear and age on hardwood floors, making them seem glossy and attractive.
Spend less money on repairs
Another advantage of wood floor cleaning is that, while it is an investment, it is far less expensive than repairing or replacing it. Having your wood floor cleaned regularly is an unavoidable cost. Putting it off and allowing dust, filth, and grime to collect will result in higher repair and replacement costs in the future.
Well-being and comfort
The third advantage is the general appearance and feel of having clean flooring. Dirty and damaged hardwood floors are uncomfortable to walk and play on, and they are more prone to accumulate dirt, dust, and bacteria that might make you or your loved ones sick. Deep cleaning hardwood floors regularly will make your home appear and feel more pleasant.
Hire A Professional Cleaner
If you are busy with your job or you do not want to risk your floor with some possible damages, you may want to look for professional cleaners who are expert in cleaning wood floors or you may ask for a consultation from various wood flooring associations to tackle your flooring problems. In this way, you do not have to worry that your floor might be damaged since professional cleaners are trained thoroughly before getting their certifications. You may ask your friends to recommend you a reliable professional cleaner or you may look on the internet for the one with a high feedback rating.
