How to Clean Red Oak Hardwood Flooring

Red oak hardwood flooring is a very durable type of flooring that looks great for many years. However, if you want to keep it looking its best, you are going to need to make sure that you clean it properly. Here are a few things to consider about how to clean red oak hardwood flooring.

Step 1 - Get Hardwood Floor Cleaner

One of the most important parts of this process is getting the right type of hardwood floor cleaner. You want to make sure that you purchase a cleaner that is specifically designed for hardwood floors. There are many different cleaners out there and some of them can actually be detrimental to hardwood.

Therefore, you want to make sure that the cleaner that you purchase will not harm your floor. The best thing that you can do is to check with the manufacturer of your specific hardwood floor in order to see what types of cleaners they recommend. You should be able to purchase this cleaner in large sizes or in a small spray bottle in most cases.

Step 2 - Make Your Own Cleaner

If you do not have a commercial hardwood flooring cleaner, you can make one out of things that you have around the house. A very effective cleaner for hardwood consists of a mixture of vinegar and water. Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with a gallon of water.

You could also put 10 used teabags into 1/2 gallon of water to make another great hardwood floor cleaner. These cleaners can be used as a spot cleaner and applied with a rag, or you can use a mop to apply them. You should also note that used tea bags can be used to polish your hardwood floor and even wood surfaces on furniture by rubbing the wood with a few damp tea bags and then buffing it to a rich shine with a soft clean cloth. The tannins in tea can bring out the wood's natural shine.

Step 3 - Remove Dirt Regularly

In order to keep your hardwood floor looking good, you need to make sure that you keep the dust off of it. To do this, you should get in the habit of sweeping the floor regularly. Use your dustpan and your broom to remove as much dirt as you possibly can. Dirt is very corrosive, and it can damage the surface of the hardwood floor. If you leave dirt on the floor and then continually walk on it, this is going to cause the dirt to move across the hardwood finish. After a while, this can really break down the finish on the floor. After you sweep, you should also consider using a vacuum to thoroughly remove all of the dirt.

Step 4 - Use the Hardwood Cleaner

After you remove all of the dirt, you are going to want to periodically clean it with the hardwood cleaner. In order to do this, you should be able to spray it onto the floor or put some in a bucket and mix it with water. If you are using a bucket, you will want to apply the cleaner with a mop. It is important that you do not let the mop get too wet because excess water on the wood can be damaging.