As the air ventilation systems move air in and out of our indoor spaces, the unfiltered dirt particles and grimes end up in our hardwood floors, ceilings, or walls. In addition, our movements in and out of our indoor spaces can introduce dirt, grimes, and germs into hardwood floors. If not cleaned, most of these grimes build up and soil our floors, masking the natural beauty of the floors. Looking to master the best ways on how to clean grime off hardwood floors, stay tuned for more information.
What Is Grime, and How to Prevent It?
Grime denotes the dirt particles ingrained in your surfaces. These particles cover the beautiful layer of your hardwood floors with ugly spots. Grimes can be in the form of dust, food particles, spillages, and more.
Cleaning off grime is time-consuming and costly. For this reason, every homeowner wants to keep grimes and other dirt particles at bay by all means. Your hardwood floor handles many fits of abuse by taking on mishaps, heavy traffic, scuffs, and spills. One best way to minimize the amount of grimes ending up on your hardwood floors is to place a floor mat in and out of the outdoor doors. During rainy and snowy climates, place a removal area rug on the outdoor doors. These will take on the dirt, de-icing, and water agents on your shoes.
In all instances, consider leaving the shoes outdoors. That way, you won’t introduce the germs, dirt, and grimes trapped on your shoes to your interior spaces. Consider using floor protectors and rugs to minimize scratching by cleats, heels, and kids. If you use a product such as Nature’s Miracle and want to know how well it works, we go in depth here.
Ways on Cleaning Grimy Layers Off Your Flooring!
Sweep, vacuum, and dust your hardwood floors
Start the process of cleaning grime off your hardwood flooring by dusting, sweeping, or vacuuming. Use soft microfiber dusting pads or disposable dust cloths to remove ingrained particles and dirt. Use vacuums with special hardwood floor accessories to remove any dirt buildup on your floors. Avoid using vacuums with beater rug attachments as that could dent or scratch the floors. You can also use an electric broom to sweep the grimes off your hardwood flooring. To vacuum hard-to-reach spots such as room corners and baseboard crevices, you have to use vacuum cleaners with a hose attachment.
Remember, each space in your home will require using different cleaning styles. To avoid dirt accumulating to form stubborn stains in high traffic areas like your kitchen or entryways, sweep and dust such spaces daily. You should also damp cloth clean them every week to remove any stubborn stains. In places that don’t get high traffic, you can sweep them occasionally. You don’t have to mop them frequently. Once a week will be enough.
Damp mop your floors frequently
Hardwood floors are very sensitive to some cleaning solutions. As per experts, solutions made of ammonia, water, and vinegar could damage hardwood floors. Likewise, dripping mop or water washing can cause hardwood flooring to warp. As per experts, ammonia and vinegar have highly concentrated acids that could dull your wood floor’s finish.
The best way to clean grime off hardwood floors is by damp mopping the floor. Always use a cleaning product specially designed for maintaining hardwood flooring. As you dilute the product, follow the instructions carefully. Always squeeze the mop of any dripping solution content. Only use the mop when it’s damp enough. You should follow the grains when mopping the wood for more impressive results. If you’re cleaning off extremely dirt areas, you’ll have to refill the bucket with a new solution every so often.
Dealing with more complex dirt problems
It’s common to find lone stains, spots, and scratches from pets, and heel marks stuck on your hardwood floors. To clean any of these grimes, you might have to use floor wax and steel wool. Use the steel wool in polishing the floor wax into your hardwood floor.
When dealing with deep-rooted dark spots, you want to use a bleaching substance. Apply the bleaching solution onto the dark spot and let it sit for some time. In an hour, the bleach would have soaked into the dirt area. Now, use a water-cleaner damped cloth to rinse the bleaching substance off. It’s very likely the bleach will remove the hardwood floor finish, so you may have to sand and stain the affected spot, so it blends well with the other hardwood flooring.
If you’re removing deep or raised stains, you want to sand the area with fine sandpaper to give it a smooth feel. Then apply a stain similar to the stain applied on other parts of the hardwood floor. You should always use a matching protective coating specially made for hardwood flooring.
How to Prevent Damage to WoodFloors
To prevent damage to your hardwood flooring, you’ll have to understand some basic safety precautions. The following are ways to help avoid needless hardwood flooring damages:
- Get sticky and wet spills removed immediately. If left uncleaned, spills can further damage your hardwood flooring. Spills can as well get rooted to your hardwood floor, making them hard to remove.
- Always use the right cleaning products. The wrong cleaning products will always leave residues on your hardwood floors, affecting the quality of the finishes. Consult with your janitorial company before you use any cleaning product.
- Use the right cleaning equipment. Always use equipment made for cleaning hardwood flooring. Don’t go for machines meant for tough flooring or brooms suited for garages. You want to consult with your janitorial specialist to know which of the cleaning products and equipment are a perfect choice.
- Never steam clean your hardwood flooring. Steaming can cause moisture to flow into your hardwood joints, which can trigger warping.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning grimes off your hardwood flooring can be more challenging than you think. If you don’t know the ropes, you’re going to mess up big time. In today’s post, we enlightened you on how to clean grime off hardwood floors efficiently and easily. You must observe all outlined safety guidelines. Always use the right cleaning products and equipment to avoid scratching or denting your hardwood flooring.