Avoid Using a Steam Mop on Wood Although it may be tempting to deep clean your hardwood floors with a steam mop, don't. “Drastic temperature changes and moisture may warp the wood,” says Steve Stocki, manager of marketing and merchandising at Lumber Liquidators.

Is a steam mop safe for hardwood floors?

Solid Hardwood Floors

Sealed hardwood floors can withstand the moisture and heat from a steam mop, and they clean really nicely with a streak-free finish. However, avoid using a steam mop on unsealed hardwoods, as they're more vulnerable and easily damaged by excessive moisture.

Will steam cleaning ruin hardwood floors?

Avoid using water and vinegar, soap-based cleaners, wax or steam cleaners on your hardwood floor. Over time, vinegar and water will dull the floor's finish, while soap or wax will leave a residue. Steam cleaners put heat and excessive water on your floor, which can lead to cupping and long-term damage.

How do you steam clean hardwood floors?

Use gentle, sweeping motions, going back and forth with the steam cleaner across each section of the floor. Once you're done in the room, visually inspect the floors for leftover water. Letting moisture sit on the floors can damage the finish, and in areas where the finish is wearing, the wood as well.

What is the best way to clean hardwood floors?

Begin by dusting or sweeping your floors well. Then make a cleaning mixture using 4 cups warm water and a few drops of castile soap or dish soap. Do not shake, but gently mix this, then mop or scrub small sections at a time, drying them with a clean cloth or dry mop after."

We Used A Steam Mop on Hardwood Floors and THIS Happened

41 related questions found

What kind of mop do you use on hardwood floors?

The best type of mop to use on your hardwood floors is a microfiber flat mop. There are three main reasons why microfiber flat mops are the best way to clean your floors: Microfiber Cleans Better than conventional mops.

Will Swiffer ruin hardwood floors?

You can safely use Swiffer products on hardwood floors. ... With just the right amount of solution, it breaks up tough, sticky messes, brings out the natural beauty of your floors and won't damage them. Go with the grain to ensure the best clean possible.

What floors can you use a steam mop on?

Steam cleaners are generally safe to use on any type of vinyl or linoleum floor, on ceramic or porcelain tile, and on some forms of hardwood and laminate flooring.

How often can you steam clean hardwood floors?

Areas of the house where there is a lot of traffic, such as the kitchen, deserve to be cleaned more frequently. Once a week should do for such areas. Areas with lower traffic require a lower frequency of cleaning. Your bedroom floor, for example, can be cleaned at least once a month.

Can you use a Shark steam mop on hardwood floors?

You should never attempt to unleash the cleaning power of a Shark® steam mop on a hardwood floor unless the entire floor has been sealed. A range of different sealants – including waxes and resins – are used to create a protective barrier against moisture and other contaminants.

Is steaming floors better than mopping?

Steam mops and traditional mops both have their uses in our home-cleaning repertoire. ... Steam mops can sanitize your flooring, while traditional mops may be better for spills and quick accidents.

How can you tell if your hardwood floors are sealed?

​To tell if your wood floor is sealed, find an inconspicuous area, dab a drop of water on the surface, and see if it soaks in or beads on top. If the water drop beads on top of the wood, your floor is sealed. Surface-sealed floors are stain and water-damage resistant and easiest to clean.

Can you mop hardwood floors?

A regular once-over with a broom or dust mop will do wonders for cleaning hardwood floors. ... For a quick clean, dust wood floors with a mop that has been treated with a dusting agent to pick up dust, dirt, and pet hair that might scratch the floor surface.

Can you leave hardwood floors unfinished?

Most hardwood floors are stained some color that enriches and deepens the natural color of the wood. ... It's not as common as it used to be, but you can leave the floor unfinished. These are often called raw floors or bare floors. Stains and finishes keep out dirt and moisture, though.

Where does the dirt go when you steam clean?

Where does the dirt go when you steam clean? When steam cleaning, the dirt does not "go anywhere". Instead, the dirt is broken down by the heat from the water vapor, but remains in the area. To remove the loosened dirt from the area, you need to manually wipe it with a steam mop, cloth, or vacuum it.

Does a steam mop clean floors?

Unlike regular mops, steam mops do not leave a residue on the floor and often clean through the dirt. The heat of the steam can kill about 99 percent of the bacteria and dust mites. Steam mops can disinfect floors, restore shine, kill dust mites, and remove some stains.

How do you clean hardwood floors everyday?

Use a broom or hardwood floor mop for cleaning wood floors daily. A microfiber dust mop pre-treated with a dusting agent will pick up dust and dirt and prevent scratches. Vacuum your hardwood floor once a week. Use your vacuum's “hard floor” setting.

What can you not use a steam mop on?

Here are a few things you shouldn't clean with steam vapor:

• Anything that can be damaged due to heat exposure, such as water-based paint and cardboard.
• Porous surfaces, such as stucco, brick, and marble.
• Large industrial spaces and food plants.
• Large areas of carpet.

Why is my floor sticky after I steam mop?

The reason why your floor is sticky after steam mopping is using too much cleaning chemicals. Even the mildest of cleaning solutions, if used in heavy dilution, will cause floors to become sticky. The soapy residue dries and is left behind.

Can I use a steam mop on my karndean floor?

If you have a Karndean floor, you should not, under any circumstances, use a steam mop on it. Using a steam mop might make your floor look clean, but it will also cause damage to the flooring, the laminate coatings and the materials beneath.

How do you maintain hardwood floors in the kitchen?

As a general rule, it is best to mop wood floors only occasionally and to do so with a slightly dampened mop or towel. Wet-mopping brings too much moisture in contact with the flooring and should be avoided. When a hardwood floor starts to get damaged and worn down, you have the option of refinishing it.

Is water bad for wood floors?

Water is the enemy of hardwood flooring. Due to the porous nature of wood, moisture can be easily absorbed into the material. So your flooring may show signs of staining from small spills. The wet floor may also begin to buckle and cup when large amounts of water are absorbed as the planks swell.

Can you use vinegar on hardwood?

Just don't use vinegar and water to clean hardwood floors. ... The finish is the protective layer of your hardwood floors. Since vinegar is an acid, it will actually break down the finish on the surface of your floor, and over time it will reduce the shine and leave a dull appearance.

Is it better to sweep or vacuum hardwood floors?

Is it better to sweep or vacuum hardwood floors? While sweeping is a great way to clean up large debris, it's best to vacuum hardwood floors to get rid of fine dust and particles that sweeping may miss, especially in the wood floor crevices. Every one to two months, wet-clean surface-treated wood floors.

Is it OK to damp mop hardwood floors?

Do not wet mop wood flooring.

Damp is good. Dripping wet is bad. If you can ring out the mop or pad, you're working with too much water. Excess water will lead to damage of the floor, and even the subfloor.