Engineered wood floors are a popular choice for many homeowners due to their low cost and ease of installation. They also provide a beautiful, natural look and feel to any home. However, like any other flooring option, engineered wood floors require regular deep cleaning to maintain their beauty and luster. This can be done through professional services or DIY solutions.
DIY solutions for deep-cleaning your engineered wood floor can be very effective and cost-effective options for preserving the life of your flooring. Whether you’re looking to clean up spills, remove dirt build-up, or keep your floors looking good as new, here are some DIY solutions that you can use:
Regular vacuuming
Vacuum: Regular vacuuming is one of the best ways to keep your engineered wood floors clean. Vacuums are designed to remove dirt and debris that gets stuck in between the boards without damaging them in any way.
Make sure you use a vacuum with soft bristles so that it does not scratch the surface of your flooring as you move it around the room. You can also try using an attachment designed specifically for hardwood floors if you need extra suction power on tougher spots such as corners or baseboards.
Mopping
Mop: Mopping is essential for deep cleaning engineered wood floors since it helps break down dirt and grime that have settled into the grooves of the boards over time. Start by vacuuming first, then fill a bucket with warm water mixed with mild dish soap or hardwood floor cleaner (ensure the product is compatible with engineered wood).
Dip a mop into this mixture, then wring out excess liquid before passing over your flooring in an “S” pattern (i.e., start at one corner and make passes going back and forth until you reach another corner).
Ensure not to saturate the mop too much before each pass, as this could damage your floor by warping or buckling the boards due to excessive moisture absorption. After mopping, use a dry microfiber cloth or towel to buff out any streaks left behind from mopping before moving on to more high-traffic areas such as entryways or hallways, where more dirt tends to accumulate faster than other parts of the house due to heavy foot traffic from family members coming in/out throughout day-long periods.
Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning is another great way to deep-cleaning your engineered wood floors since it helps loosen up tough stains without causing damage like harsh chemicals would do over time if used consistently on the same surface area repeatedly.
Start by filling the steam cleaner tank according to its instructions, then plug the unit into the wall outlet before turning the machine on. Once ready, start making passes going back & forth across the entire surface area while pressing down lightly onto it (do not press too hard as this could cause water & steam droplets to penetrate inside cracks & crevices, which could lead to mold growth later down the road).
After a few minutes, turn off the machine & allow the area cool entirely before wiping away liquid residue using dry microfiber cloths/towels so that no further moisture remains present on the top layer, which again might lead to mold growth once exposed air hits dampened surfaces later on (especially during humid summer months ).
Clean With Vinegar Solution
Vinegar is one of nature’s most powerful cleaners; when mixed with water, vinegar makes an effective solution for removing grease and grime from surfaces without leaving behind any chemical residue like many commercial cleaners do over time once used consistently across the same spot multiple times.
To make a vinegar solution, mix equal parts of distilled white vinegar /warm water inside the spray bottle, then shake the bottle vigorously so that both liquids mix correctly.
Spray this solution directly onto stained areas and let sit a few minutes, allowing the vinegar to work its magic loosening up stubborn dirt particles stuck deeply within board grooves/cracks while simultaneously killing off bacteria present within these hidden crevices too, while the formula sits atop them breathing life back into dulled out/worn out surfaces after being exposed air much longer than usual due lack proper maintenance over specific period time! Finally, wipe away the solution using clean, dry microfiber cloths/towels once finished scrubbing affected spots fully ensuring all remaining dirt particles are lifted away properly during the process!
Polish With Olive Oil
Olive oil is another natural ingredient that can be used effectively to polish up dulled-out surfaces, such as those found underneath layers of dried mud/dirt accumulation over time within small cracks and crevices beneath board joints where regular mopping usually misses these hidden spots, unless special attention is paid during the whole process.
To apply olive oil to affected areas, pour a small amount onto a clean dry rag, then rub gently back and forth against the surface until the entire affected region is covered properly and evenly without leaving behind patches untouched, still soaked with some type of lubricant afterward!
Allow the olive oil to sit for a few minutes before wiping away excess leftovers using a second dry rag afterward (this will ensure all traces of oil are removed completely), finally revealing a shinier, brighter finish that should be seen after the whole process is completed correctly!
Clean With Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most common household items found on kitchen pantry shelves nowadays, yet it is still a very powerful cleaning agent when applied in the right circumstances thanks to its abrasive nature along with a neutral pH balance which makes the perfect combination when removing difficult stains caused by food spills, coffee spills, etc.
To apply baking soda onto stained areas, first mix equal parts baking soda and warm water inside a spray bottle, shaking the mixture vigorously until it is combined properly.
Afterward, spray directly onto affected regions, letting it sit for a few minutes, giving it enough time to work its magic by breaking down tough molecules stuck within board cracks and grooves, finally wiping away excess liquid residue and leftovers using dry microfiber cloths once finished scrubbing everything fully!
Deep cleaning your engineered wood floor does not have to be expensive or complicated; there are plenty of DIY solutions available for achieving great results at home without having to spend large amounts of money doing so! Follow these simple steps above to keep yours looking as good as new always!
Learn more: diy tips for refinishing your parquet floor, the science of cleaning understanding different flooring types.