There is nothing better than hardwood floors for your home. Carpeting is nice underneath your feet, but not so nice when you have kids and pets who easily stain it. Hardwood creates a warm and homey feeling, and can also be wiped free in an instant. With all the things that we love about them, there are some things that we don’t. The number one thing is cleaning your hardwood floors so that you aren’t putting unnecessary wear and tear on them, but they are sufficiently clean. Often times, cleaning hardwood floors, is reason why people hire cleaning companies.

Avoid harsh chemicals

There is much debate in cleaning circles about what is the best thing for cleaning hardwood floors. There are some that insist that the only way to make them really clean is by using vinegar, while others believe in products such as Murphy’s Oil Soap. Although there is merit to both of these cleaning agents, the one thing that is for certain, you should avoid harsh chemicals and other cleaning products that have alcohol or ammonia in them. Using tile cleaner, or other floor cleaners, is not a good idea for the shine of your home floors, nor is it something that you should allow your cleaning lady to use.

When you use alcohol or ammonia it strips the finish from the floor. Overtime, that wears away at the polyurethane finish that keeps your hardwood floors safe from damage from the elements. When that happens you are opening yourself up for the potential to have to re-sand and refinish them. That can be not only a huge expense, but a huge mess. Cleaning hardwood floors, therefore, should never be done with caustic agents if you want to extend the life of them.

The floors won’t be perfect all the time

The thing to bear in mind is that when you are cleaning hardwood floors, you shouldn’t overdo it. Many people knock themselves out feeling like they just can’t seem to keep them clean enough. That is the beauty of having them, they are not supposed to be perfect. If you are able to wash them no more than once a week, your home will be cleaner than you think. The more you wash them, the more you are hacking away at the finish and opening up the crevices for dirt and dust to settle in. The finish on your hardwood is what locks out the dirt and contaminants. That is why overdoing it is not a good thing.

Whether you are using a mop, or getting down on your hands and knees, cleaning hardwood floors is never a fun thing. There are new appliances out there that say they can vacuum and clean all in one, but don’t be fooled, in the end they usually end up taking more time and energy than they are worth. A quick swifter of the floor should be good enough to go another week. The best advice for cleaning your hardwood floors is to take your shoes off at the door, or to hire a professional.