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The best way to clean wood fl oors might surprise you
Although most people envision their
dream home with shiny wood fl oors,
many consumers are unaware of the best
way to care for them, according to a 2017
survey conducted by the National Wood
Flooring Association.
“Not surprisingly, many homeowners
are unsure of the best way to eff ectively
and quickly clean hardwood fl oors. Some
believe mopping with a bucket of water
and a cleaning solution is best while others
occasionally sweep or vacuum. Many
cleaning methods can hurt rather than
help a fl oor, for example, even a ‘damp’
string mop can leave excess water on a
hardwood fl oor, and we know that water
and wood don’t mix,” said Bona U.S.
Director of Marketing Cate Vanegas.
Th e key fi ndings in the online survey,
conducted in October 2017 by Public
Opinion Strategies, found that just 24
percent of consumers answered “sweeping”
as the correct way to clean wood
fl oors. Th is answer was closely followed
by 19 percent who believe using a soap-
or oil-based cleaner is best, and 12 percent
who believe using water and vinegar
is the best solution.
Just in time to open the doors and windows
and welcome in spring, Bona has
introduced its Premium Spray Mop for
Hardwood Floors with a larger mop head
for faster cleaning, and a full-size cleaning
cartridge of cleaner. Th e new pressurized
cartridge dispenses the perfect amount of
solution designed to care for and sustain
hardwood fl oors.
Lifestyle and design blogger Jennifer
Rizzo (jenniferrizzo.com) recently refi nished
her wood fl oors, and notes the simplicity
fi rsthand: “Aft er all the dust bunnies
are cleared away, I use a Bona spray
mop to clean my fl oors. It’s odorless,
non-toxic and doesn’t leave any residue.
It also leaves my fl oors looking beautiful.”
With an estimated 25 million homes in
the U.S. with wood fl oors, understanding
how to clean them is essential to maintain
and protect the investment. Try the following
tips to keep your hardwood fl oors
looking beautiful.
Regularly: Dust/sweep. While using a
broom can be eff ective, it also just pushes
the dirt around, so using a microfi -
ber mop or cloth is the best daily defense
against scratches and surface damage.
Oft en: Dust and mop. Aft er a quick
spin around the fl oor to grab dust, use
a microfi ber pad mop and residue-free,
neutral cleaner. Look for third-party certifi
ed cleaners that will be healthier for
your fl oors and your family.
As needed: When scratches pop up or
the fi nish looks dull, consider a recoat or
refi nish to keep fl oors durable and beautiful.
Ask an outside contractor for a waterbased
fi nish and dust containment system
to ensure the job is VOC and toxin free.
Th ings to avoid: Water and vinegar,
soap-based cleaners, wax or steam cleaners.
Vinegar (remember, it’s an acid) and
water will damage and dull the fl oor’s fi nish,
while soap and wax leave residue.
Steam cleaners put heat and excessive
water on the fl oor, which can lead to cupping
and long-term damage.
Want more cleaning tips? Visit Bona’s
Wood Floors 101 tutorials.
Courtesy BPT