5 Tips for Cleaning Engineered Hardwood Floors
Can you distinguish solid hardwood flooring from engineered hardwood floors? If you can, consider it a superpower.
After all, engineered wood these days looks pretty much the real thing. If you can spot which is which, you truly have a special talent. Now, if you already have engineered hardwood flooring in your home, one concern might be how to maintain it.
Unlike solid hardwood, which can last up to a century, basic engineered wood flooring’s lifespan is about three decades. That said, the following tips for cleaning engineered hardwood floors can help you maintain your flooring for a long time.
1. Regularly Sweep and Mop Your Floors
Almost all types of flooring require regular sweeping and mopping to get rid of superficial dirt and dust. However, for engineered hardwood, it’s best to stick to dry-mopping with a microfiber mop.
Stay away from abrasive cleaners. You want to be gentle even with sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping to avoid scratches and premature tears on your flooring. For high-traffic areas, aim to mop once a week and once a month for less-used places.
If you can’t imagine mopping without water, make sure your mop is damp, not wet. Unless your flooring is water-resistant, you want to avoid moisture seeping into the layers.
2. Only Use Approved Cleaners
Wax-based cleaners and oil soaps are a no-no for engineered hardwood floor maintenance. If you want a gentle cleaning solution, you can use a cup of white vinegar diluted in two gallons of water.
This solution is gentle enough for daily use, but for best results, use this with a mop that won’t scratch your flooring.
For heavy-duty cleaning, you can use a commercially available solution, but spot-test it first. You have to make sure it won’t damage the finish.
3. Invest in Protective Coverings
Caring for your floors isn’t limited to cleaning every day. If you can protect high-traffic areas with rugs, runners, and mats, you’ll reduce the possibility of dirt damaging the finish of your flooring.
Employ these coverings in kitchens, hallways, and entry points. If you have something like Boise Engineered & LVP Flooring products, you’ll want to protect your investment with the best floor coverings.
4. Consider Refinishing for Major Damage
Sometimes, even maintaining your engineered floors to the best of your abilities isn’t enough. Accidents happen, and when there’s major damage to your flooring, you have no choice but to refinish it.
The bad news is that some engineered hardwood floors can only be refinished once. In such cases, replacing the boards is your best option.
5. Other Tips for Cleaning Engineered Hardwood Floors
For spills and stains, immediately use a microfiber towel to wipe them off. The faster you act, the less likely these will leave a stain.
As for scratches, you can use a scratch concealer. Avoid ammonia and other harsh cleaners, and never use a scouring pad to remove scratches.
Make Your Floors Sparkling Clean and Protected
Now that you know some tips for cleaning engineered hardwood floors, are you excited to try them out?
Even if you find cleaning floors a chore, following the tips here can help ensure your flooring lasts a long time. For more cleaning tips and advice, please check out our other posts.
