Installing new hardwood floors or discovering existing hardwood floors in an older structure increases the value of a home. They are long-lasting, have a high resale value, and can be used to complement almost any decorating style.  and other tools are used to polish floors to get shine and durability. 

While a matte finish may be preferred by a few interior designers, the majority of hardwood floor owners prefer finishes that shine which is done throught floor polishers. The trick is to keep that gleaming sheen even after years of normal wear and tear from everyday life. Your cleaning habits may be contributing to the dullness of your wood floors—or, conversely, may be contributing to the fact that they continue to shine no matter how much time has passed.

What Type of Finish Does Your Floor Have?

Knowing what type of finish has been applied to the wood is one of the most important pieces of information for keeping hardwood floors looking their best. Was your solid or engineered hardwood finished with a polyurethane or polyacrylic urethane finish, or did you use a paste wax to seal and protect your wood floors? If you're not sure, here's a test to see if you're making the best cleaning decisions possible:

Place a drop of water on the floor in an area where there is a lot of foot traffic. If the water is quickly absorbed or causes spotting on the finish, this indicates that the hardwood has not been sealed, and water should never be used to clean the surface of the hardwood. However, if the bead of water simply sits on the surface of the hardwood without being absorbed, this indicates that the hardwood has been sealed.To check for a paste wax finish on the floor, take some fine steel wool and lightly rub it over the surface in a corner. If the floor has been waxed, there will be a grey, waxy film left on the steel wool after it has been cleaned.

What You'll Need

BroomSpongeDust mop or vacuumMicrofiber mopCleaning solution designed for hardwood (if needed)

How to Properly Clean Hardwood Floors

Wipe up Spills

Remove any wet spills as soon as they occur to avoid leaving watermarks on the surface of the paper.

Remove dirt on a daily basis.

Clean the floor with a broom, vacuum, or dust mop on a daily basis to remove dirt that can cause scratches and wear down the finish. Don't forget to check underneath area rugs, which can trap grit and cause scratches in your floors.

When the Seasons Change, Use a Damp Mop

It is recommended that you do not damp mop your floors more than four times per year, unless you have neglected them for weeks and are left with mud and sticky messes all over your house and property.

A microfiber mop that has been lightly wetted should be used to wipe down the surface in the direction of the wood grain. Because even sealed floors can buckle under the weight of too much water, it is never recommended to mop with a wet mop. Look for a commercial cleaner that comes with a spray sprayer, such as those made by Bona, if you believe you need one. To effectively clean the flooring, a thick mist of approximately 1/2 teaspoon of cleaner per two square feet of flooring is sufficient.

Buff Dry

To avoid streaking, use a microfiber mop that has been completely dried after cleaning.