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Your hardwood floors are one of the biggest investments in your home. The wrong cleaning product can undo that investment quickly, and most of the damage homeowners cause is completely accidental. A cleaner that seems gentle can dull the finish in a matter of months. 

Here’s the short version: the best way to clean wood floors is to dry sweep or vacuum several times per week, wipe up spills right away with a barely damp cloth, and damp clean about once a month using a pH-neutral wood floor cleaner and a microfiber mop. Avoid vinegar, ammonia, wax, oil soaps, abrasive cleaners, soaking wet mops, and steam cleaners. 

Below is the full breakdown, along with answers to some of the questions Jacksonville homeowners ask us most. 

• Sweep daily - One of the most important things you can do for your floors is to sweep them regularly.  This keeps them looking their best, but more importantly, removes all soil and debris that could otherwise get ground down into the boards and cause damage.  Sweep the high traffic areas daily, including around the cabinets and island in the kitchen, or inside the mudroom.  Spot sweep any crumbs or debris when you see them.  Areas of less foot traffic can be swept every other day.
• Mop weekly - Beyond the daily sweeping, give your wood floors a weekly mopping with a high quality cleaner that is specifically formulated for wood flooring.  Use a soft cloth mop, and mop gently so that the applicator head does not scrape or scratch the wood.
• Find the right floor cleaner - Rather than soap, you’ll want to use a cleaner that is specially formulated to have a neutral pH.  Avoid using soap, as it can leave a residue that will attract dust and dirt once it dries, and avoid using any abrasive cleaning agents, as they can scratch and dull your floor.  
• Don’t overwet - Moisture is an enemy of wood flooring.  When mopping, you want to cover the floor evenly, but not overly saturate it. Use a damp mop rather than a sopping wet one.
• Clean by hand (when needed) - Clean the corners, stairs, and hard-to-reach places of your wood floor the old fashioned way: on your hands and knees.  Use your same cleaning solution, but apply it by hand, using a soft cloth, rather than with the mop.
• Finish to protect - Apply a good quality, compatible finish to the wood floor in order to protect the surface and provide a barrier against moisture.  Most hardwood floor finishes on the market will leave a thick, waxy feel and look to your floor, and will peel up, sometimes pretty quickly after they’ve been applied.  It’s usually best to hire a good professional wood floor cleaning company and have their technicians apply a high quality coating to your floors.
• Use mats - Put down mats and area rugs to add another level of protection for your wood floor.  A welcome mat outside the house can trap a lot of the dirt from being tracked in from outside.
• Hire professional wood floor cleaners - At least once per year, treat your wood flooring to a high quality cleaning by the best professional cleaning company in your area.  Nothing makes wood floors sparkle better than a good professional cleaning!

For many allergy sufferers, the worst part of the affliction is that even in the comfort of their own homes – their own beds even – they find no relief. Pet dander, spring pollen, mold spores and dust are everywhere around us, even when we sleep. If this sounds familiar to you, don’t give up yet. Here are some cleaning tips to allergy proof your home.

There are many different options to choose from when you are choosing your flooring material; however, hardwood is one of the most popular choices, and for good reason. Hardwood provides a beautiful elegant look that fits any type of home design, from a more traditional style to a modern or contemporary look. If you decide to go with hardwood floors, then you’ll need to consider hiring a Jacksonville wood floor cleaning service every once in a while to keep your hardwood floors looking as good as new. If you don’t take care of your wood floors, they’ll end up wearing down over the years – thereby losing their luster and possibly even becoming damaged.