Hardwood floor cleaning is what makes your hardwood floor last, it is better to be precise about what you are using rather than ruin the floor and repent later. Before getting on to the ways of cleaning the floor, lets take a quick look first of all at what we can do in order to prevent the cleaning from becoming a painful chore. Avoid using harsh footwear on the floor; it will prevent marks of heels and dirt. Use rags under the furniture to avoid scratches and accumulation of dust in one area. Do not drag the furniture; always lift it to move it. The last is protecting your floor from water since dampness is the worst enemy of your hardwood floor.

The method of cleaning your hardwood floor depends not on the type of wood but the type of finish you have given to your hardwood floor.  If the floor is Surface Sealed then cleaning it is generally not a problem, for most times simply sweeping and mopping will do the job. In case of a Penetrating seal/oil treated floor you need to be more vigilant and pamper the floor. You would want to protect the latter with wax and ensure that it does not meet with any dampness at all.

It is advisable to not let anything wet get near the hardwood floor. Even for cleaning use a damp mop. Before using a damp mop, ensure all the dust and marks have been removed carefully. Ensure that even the broom you use should be soft bristled in order to prevent any scratches.

In places of worn out patches, do not use anything damp to avoid seeping in of water which can cause damage to the flooring.

While a lot of hardwood floor cleaners are available in the market, a low pH solution can do the job. Even a few ml of vinegar can lead to a shining floor. If the manufacturer of the finishing material has provided you with a particular cleaning solution, then using that may be a good and safe idea.

Mopping the floor with wax or polish might help to recover the brightness of your floor, especially if it is growing old. Buffing the floor with wax is a good idea occasionally. Too much of wax can lead to adhesion related problems in instances of recoating the floor.

For removal of stains, you can use a little amount of alcohol. If the stains are persistent then sanding down the area is probably the only available option. It is better to avoid this tough procedure and keep in mind the preventive measures given to you right at the beginning.

Depending on the use of the area, you may need to clean your floor from once a week to once in ten days. The only thing you have to be careful of is avoiding any dampness from being absorbed by the floor. The rest is easily manageable, especially if you have the surface sealed floor with polyurethanes finish. So get ready to make your old floor look new all over again.