In most households wood floors should be cleaned at least four to six times a year.
Clean wood floors before polyurethane.
Here s how to properly clean your wood floors with tsp.
As with all wood finishes good results depend on smooth clean wood surfaces but this goes double with clear finishes such as polyurethane.
However you still need to take special care when cleaning this type of floor as you can damage the floor or the coating if you re not careful.
The former is usually the more durable of the two.
This reduces wear and tear and also adds a protective barrier that prevents water and moisture from seeping into the wood.
But as long as the damage is shallow in the coating and not in the wood itself you can renew the hardwood floor by adding a new coat of polyurethane right over the old finish.
Floor installer michael dittmer who lives outside chicago dispatches a robot vac daily to keep an eye on his entire first floor.
For how to deep clean hardwood floors consider doing this cleaning in the spring or just before the winter holidays use a wood floor mop and wood floor cleaning product diluted according to the label instructions.
Still be sure to test out the polish in a small hidden or inconspicuous location on the wood before tackling the entire floor.
Polyurethane finished wood floors are more durable than the wax coatings of the past.
The first step to cleaning with tsp is just that.
Cover nearby flooring as well as tile or laminate since tsp can react adversely to other floor types.
Polyurethane hardwood floor finishes come in two varieties.
To protect the flooring a clear polyurethane coating is often added to seal the flooring.
Sand your wood with at least 220 grit sandpaper.
Those from the factory and those applied on site.
Saturate a sponge or rag mop in the water then wring it almost dry so it feels only slightly damp to the touch.
Hardwood floor cleaning and maintenance steps.
Clear and clean your wood floors of dust and dirt.
Clean wood floors with vinegar before applying the polyurethane.
This how to refinish wood floors article will show you how to do just that.
Because different floor finishes have unique care requirements the best way to clean hardwood floors will depend on the type of finish rather than the wood species e g cherry maple oak.
For open grain woods like oak ash or walnut you can apply a wood grain filler before the polyurethane to create an ultra smooth finished surface.
All polyurethane finishes are water resistant but flooring professionals advise using water sparingly if at all for cleaning.
Finding the right gear.