Cleaning Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are among the most valued surfaces in Ontario homes — and one of the most easily damaged by incorrect cleaning. The key principle is: hardwood and excessive moisture are incompatible. Every cleaning method should minimize water contact and ensure the floor dries quickly.
Daily and Weekly Maintenance
Sweep or vacuum hardwood floors with a soft-bristle broom or a hardwood-safe vacuum attachment (without the beater bar engaged — the beater bar on a vacuum is for carpet and will scratch hardwood). Microfibre flat-head mops used dry are effective for daily dust and fine particle pickup.
Wet Cleaning
Use a microfibre mop dampened with a hardwood-safe cleaner — the mop head should be wrung out very thoroughly, not soaking wet. Products designed specifically for hardwood (Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is widely used and consistently recommended) are pH-balanced and residue-free. Apply the damp mop in the direction of the wood grain. The floor should feel dry within a few minutes of cleaning — if it stays wet, you're using too much moisture.
What to Avoid
- Steam mops: Never use a steam mop on hardwood — high heat and steam moisture penetrate the finish and warp the wood
- Vinegar solutions: Vinegar is acidic and degrades hardwood finish over time — despite being recommended online widely, do not use it on hardwood
- Oil soaps (Murphy's) on polyurethane-finished hardwood: Oil soaps build up residue on polyurethane finishes — they're only appropriate for oil-finished hardwood