How To Clean Wooden Floors Like A Pro

Wooden floors are a beautiful, classic feature in many Kiwi homes and are much loved for their aesthetic appeal, durability and longevity. But they need regular cleaning, care and maintenance to keep them looking their best and last longer.

If you're wondering how to clean your wood floors effortlessly and efficiently, then this post is for you. We'll delve into the importance of using the right techniques and the wood floor cleaner in the market to keep your floors looking as good as new.

Here's what's covered;

Floor Cleaner for Interior Wooden Floors

Cabot's Floor Clean - Great for everyday cleaning!

The wood floor cleaner is one that's specially formulated for wooden floors, like Cabot's Floor Clean - it needs to be gentle on native timbers like Rimu, Matai and Kauri while also being tough on grease and grime.

Avoid DIY household cleaners like vinegar and baking soda on hardwood floors as vinegar can actually strip the finish and leave your floors looking “cloudy, dull or scratched”.

Here are five reasons why consider Cabot's for wooden floor cleaning.

  1. Easy to use as an everyday cleaning solution
  2. Tough on grease and grime but gentle on wood, including NZ natives
  3. Apply three coats, allowing 2 hours between coats
  4. Pleasant citrus smell
  5. Readily available at your local Dulux Trade Center, Bunnings, and DIY stores.

How To Clean Wood Floors: Easy Step-By-Step Instructions

Here's how to use Cabot's Floor Clean to clean your wooden floors and keep them looking like new.

What you need:

Step 1: Remove as much furniture as you can from the floor to make the cleaning job easier.

Step 2: Vacuum the floor to remove any dust or debris.

Step 3: Pour around 50ml of Cabot's Floor Clean into a bucket with 4 litres of water, and mix.

Step 4: Using the mop, spread the Cabot's Floor Clean on the floor to loosen grime and dirt. Be careful not to over-soak the floor! If there's any leftover solution on the floor, just mop it back into the bucket and let the floor dry naturally.

How To Make Wood Floors Look New Again - Cleaning and Polishing Your Timber Floors

Use Cabot's Floor Clean and Floor Polish to bring your timber floors back to life and look almost as new! Cabot’s Floor Polish is designed to restore, enhance and protect your timber floors and prolong their life for years to come. Watch this quick video tutorial below, or keep scrolling for step-by-step instructions

Step-by-step instructions on how to make wood floors look new again

What you need:

Step 1: Prep. Before you get cracking, give your floors a good clean with a duster or dust mop to ensure there are no large and loose dirt particles still adhering to them. You want a nice, clean, dust-free surface to work with.

Step 2: Add about 50mls of Cabot's Floor Clean solution to 4 litres of water – if the floor is really dirty, you might need more, so use 100mls for every 4 litres of water.

Step 3: Apply Cabot's Floor Clean to the floor with the mop to loosen up grime and dirt. If there are pools of water on the floor, soak them up with the mop first so the timber isn’t flooded.

Got stubborn, dirty marks? Remove by pouring a small amount of Cabot's Floor Clean onto a soft cloth and rubbing the mark gently. Wear rubber gloves while you do all this. Make sure the floor is fully dry before moving on to the next step.

Step 4: Get polishing. Cabot's Floor Polish should only be applied to timber floors with a coating that’s at least four weeks old. Do not shake the bottle before use.

With a clean, dry sponge mop or Cabot's Lambswool Applicator, apply the polish. Avoid creating bubbles by not using too much liquid in one go – and don’t allow pools of liquid to form on your floors. If this happens, soak up any extra liquid with the mop.

Step 5: Dry. Allow time for the polish to dry – ideally an hour – before walking on it. If you want a glossier finish, apply an extra coat.

Step 6: Relax. And you’re done! Voila – your floor is back to its sparkling best!

How To Clean Old Wood Floors Without Sanding

A good thorough vacuum, followed by a floor clean and polish, is the best way to restore old hardwood floors without sanding. Be sure to vacuum the entire surface to get rid of any dirt or dust particles that may have settled into the wood grain.

Remember to use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to prevent scratching the precious hardwood.

How Often Do You Need To Clean Your Hardwood Floors

Daily: Vacuum or sweep. To prevent scratches or damage to your floors, it's a good idea to vacuum or sweep on a daily basis. This will help get rid of dust and debris, keeping your surfaces safe and clean.

Weekly: Vacuum and mop with Cabot's Floor Clean. Mop weekly with Cabot's Floor Clean to get rid of dirt and grime that's collected over the week.

Every two to four months: Polish. To keep your wooden floors looking shiny and new, give it a good polish every two or four months with Cabot's Floor Polish.

Every two to four years: Deep clean. It might be worth getting a professional to deep clean your wooden floors to get rid of tough scuff marks and heavy dirt build-up, that's harder to remove from regular cleaning.

More Tips For Keeping Your Timber Floors Cleaner For Longer

Here are a few more tips for keeping your wooden floors looking shiny and in good condition.

Set a ‘no shoes inside’ rule:  This simple rule can have a HUGE impact on your wooden floors. Shoes carry dirt and grit, which are abrasive and scratch your precious hardwood floors. So, encourage your family and guests to take their shoes off before entering the house.

Clean messes and spills as soon as possible: This applies especially to liquid spills. Keep your wooden floors as dry as possible because liquids can lead to damage and warping of your floorboards.

Wrap-Up Of How To How To Clean Wooden Floors

And that's how to clean wooden floors like a pro! Here are a few key points to remember.

  • Cabot's Floor Clean is formulated for wooden floors and is tough on grease and grime while being gentle on wood, including NZ natives.
  • To clean wooden floors with Cabot's Floor Clean, remove furniture, vacuum the floor, mix Cabot's Floor Clean with water, apply with a mop, let it dry, and you're done!
  • Cabot's Floor Polish can restore, enhance, and protect wooden floors to make them look almost new.
  • To clean old wooden floors without sanding, vacuum thoroughly and use Cabot's Floor Clean and Polish
  • To keep wooden floors in good condition, vacuum or sweep daily, mop weekly with Cabot's Floor Clean, polish every two to four months with Cabot's Floor Polish, and deep clean every two to four years.
  • Set a 'no shoes inside' rule and clean up spills.

For more information, visit our Help and Advice page, which has lots of advice and tips on deck cleaning.

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