How to Clean Engineered Hardwood Floors?

Did you install a brand-new engineered hardwood floor or plan to enhance how your existing flooring looks? Our tips on cleaning engineered hardwood floors will help you achieve maximum shine with minimal effort.

Engineered hardwood is an excellent choice for those who want solid hardwood flooring or can not afford it. Engineered hardwood is just as effective and increases your home’s value while cleaning it is similar to cleaning hardwood floors.

Let’s look at techniques to clean engineered hardwood flooring properly. This guide will help you keep your floors beautiful for years.

Table of Contents

Sweep/Vacuum Daily

The first thing to be mindful of is that you should clean it daily. Regularly sweep or vacuum dust, debris, and dirt to keep your engineered hardwood flooring clean. It also keeps contaminants at bay and prevents scratching the floor.

Use Recommended Cleaners for Meticulous Cleaning

When you buy flooring material, the manufacturer recommends techniques and ways to clean engineered hardwood floors. Testing the material’s compatibility with a cleaner in a discrete spot is essential before using it on the entire floor. It ensures you do not damage the floor mistakenly. Avoid steam mops/vacuums for meticulous cleaning.

Use Water and Vinegar

You do not need a premium cleaner for light daily cleaning. A little white vinegar with lukewarm water does the trick. Pour 1 cup of vinegar per 2 gallons of water. Vinegar’s natural acidity helps remove dirt and contaminants without harming the floor or the environment.

Use a damp cloth or mop instead of anything wet to wipe off standing water immediately. Extra pro tip: mop in the same direction as the grain in the floorboards.

Protect High-Traffic Areas

An easy way of caring for engineered hardwood floors is to use welcome mats, runners, and rugs in areas with heavy footfall, such as hallways, entryways, and kitchens. These coverings help prevent the grit from accompanying your or your guests’ shoes inside the house and damaging the finish.

Refinish to Fix Floor Damage

Regular cleaning and door mats do not cut it sometimes. They are not enough to keep your floor from getting damaged. For instance, dragging furniture across damages the flooring, and you will need to sand and refinish it to restore its beauty.

Most engineered floors only use a thin top layer; you can refinish them once. Opt for premium engineered wood flooring because they use a dense layer facilitating multiple refinishes. However, sometimes, you may need to replace floorboards to maintain an even appearance, depending on the floor and finish.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Engineered Wood Floors

Many times, people make critical mistakes. One of the biggest mistakes is not knowing what to do. Avoid a few cleaning practices to avoid long-term damage.

Rough Applicators:

Do not use rough objects like a steel wool brush to apply cleaning solutions. Instead, use a soft bristle broom, microfiber cloth, or mop.

Steam Mops:

Excessive moisture can warp engineered wood planks. Do not use wet mops, steam mops, or any cleaning technique that involves water accumulation on the floor.

Harsh Chemicals:

Do not use chemicals like ammonia, oil soaps, or wax-based cleaners because these materials harm the floor’s construction.

Cleaning Solutions to Use

Identify dedicated engineered wood floor cleaners and avoid cleaners for vinyl or laminate flooring because they may damage the flooring instead.

Bona is one of the most effective cleaners for your floor. It will leave the floor looking gorgeous without leftover residue. You can also use homemade or natural cleaners, which serve the purpose and save some money. Here’s what you need to do:

For Basic Cleaning

1 gallon of warm water
¼ cup of white vinegar
5-10 drops of lemon juice or essential oil (optional)

For Extra Shine

1 gallon of warm water
¾ cup olive oil
½ cup lemon juice

FAQ

Can I steam-clean engineered wood floors?

You should avoid steam-cleaning engineered wood floors because it involves hot water, which can warp the material and allow moisture to seep in, damaging the subfloor and plan construction.

How do you clean engineered wood floors without streaks?

Choose non-streak cleaning products like Bona, and clean without leaving streaks on the floor’s surface. Also, clean your mop properly after cleaning or before reusing to rinse off previous residue. Clean mops or clothes do not leave streaks behind.

Can you refinish engineered wood floors?

You can refinish them if they have a 3mm or thicker wear layer. Anything below 3mm would be damaged from refinishing.

Can you repair scratches on an engineered hardwood floor?

Yes, they are not scratch-proof. However, instead of refinishing the whole floor, repair minor scratches with concealers. Use a felt tip craft marker that matches your floor’s color to disguise scratches. Alternatively, you can use a floor repair wax kit that matches your floor.