Do you take pride in keeping your home clean?
If so, you’re not alone. After all, your home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make.
When you have hardwood floors, you obviously want to ensure they always look as clean and gorgeous as possible. But you might have questions about keeping them clean, including whether or not you can vacuum hardwood floors.
Fortunately, this article provides the answers you need. Here we look at tips on vacuuming hardwood floors so that your investment will last for many years. Keep reading to learn more.
Basic Hardwood Floor Maintenance Tips
First, let’s look at some of the most basic tips for ensuring that your hardwood floors last for as long as possible.
One of the smartest decisions you can make is to use furniture pads. These are small pads that are placed beneath the legs of furniture to create a soft, non-abrasive barrier between the piece of furniture and the surface of the hardwood floor. Plus, furniture pads are very affordable and easy to apply.
Next, it’s important to clean up liquid spills as soon as possible. Keep in mind that nothing damages wood faster than a liquid spill. When a spill is ignored, the liquid will dry out the surface of the wood and cause it to warp. This type of damage can be expensive to repair.
The best strategy is to clean the spill immediately and apply a cleaning product to the floor. If you don’t get to the spill right away and it sits on the floor, direct a small fan to the spot to reduce hardwood swelling.
It’s also important to sweep and dust your floor frequently. This might seem a tad unnecessary, especially when your hardwood flooring doesn’t appear particularly dirty. And yet, it’s crucial to note that even the smallest amount of dust and dirt can lead to scratches. So go ahead and hit it with a broom at least twice each week.
Should You Vacuum Hardwood Flooring?
If you’re like most homeowners, you work hard to keep your carpet and rugs as clean as possible. This typically involves using a vacuum at least once a week to keep your flooring free of dirt and other types of debris that get embedded in the fibers.
But is it safe to vacuum hardwood?
The key thing to remember is that you can vacuum your hardwood floors, but you’ll need to understand the proper way to use a vacuum on this type of surface safely.
First of all, you’ll need to invest in the right type of vacuum for the hardwood floors in your home. Something smaller and lighter is the best option. After all, a heavy upright vacuum used on high-pile carpet is designed to press down on the fibers to remove as much dirt and debris as possible, but pressing the wheels down on hardwood creates creases that are hard to remove.
Canister Vacuums
What is a canister vacuum? This is a style of vacuum cleaner that’s designed to be carried around rather than pushing the entire device across the surface of your floors. One hand holds the canister while the other hand operates the cleaning attachment.
This is an ideal vacuum style for cleaning hardwood floors because of the gentle touch it provides. You can even purchase a cordless canister vacuum so you won’t have to worry about dragging the cord throughout your home.
You might also want to consider using a robot vacuum, which makes the process of keeping your home clean totally effortless. If you do go the robot vacuum route, choose one without a cleaning mode. This can leave lines in the finish of your floors.
Avoid Vacuum Beater Bars
Take a look at the wand attachment on your vacuum cleaner. You’re likely very familiar with the rotating brush on the bottom. This is known as the beater bar. It’s designed to fluff up the carpet nap to remove dirt from the fibers. It will also scratch your hardwood flooring.
This is another reason why you should invest in a vacuum that’s specially designed to clean hardwood, vinyl, tile, and laminate flooring. After all, the bristles on the beater bar or “bristle” bar will wear down the finish on the surface of the floor, resulting in a dull appearance over time.
Or you can simply invest in a vacuum that features a detachable bristle bar so it can be safely used on any type of surface in your home.
Mistakes to Avoid
There are a few common cleaning mistakes to avoid that will help extend the life and beauty of your hardwood floors.
For example, never clean your hardwood floors with chlorine bleach. Why? Because it can weaken the structure of the wood, even if you take the time to dilute it with water.
In fact, you need to completely avoid cleaning your hardwood floor with any type of harsh chemical. The simple truth is that chemicals tend to create hazing, which ends up making the surface of the floor look cloudy or dull.
So, what should you do? If you happen to notice that your hardwood floor is beginning to look a bit hazy or cloudy, take the time to dip a clean microfiber cloth into warm water and gently scrub the surface. This is the best way to keep your floor looking clean and new without the risk of damage. That being said, it’s important that you do not over-saturate your floors- a little goes a long way.
How to Vacuum Hardwood Floors in Your Home
It’s no secret that living in a home that features beautiful hardwood floors can provide a tremendous sense of pride. Fortunately, this guide to tips on how to safely vacuum hardwood floors will ensure that you can get the most value from your flooring investment.
If Your Floors Need Extra Love, Call SVB Wood Floors
Even with proper care, hardwood floors should be refinished every fifteen years or so to keep them looking their best.
When it’s time to get your hardwoods refinished, trust the experts at SVB. We offer dustless refinishing services with exterior dust extraction. This method is so effective at containing dust and debris that your family (and pets, too) can stay home while the work is being done.
If you’re ready to get started, contact us to schedule an appointment. We would be happy to help you achieve the floors of your dreams!
