Still have questions? Check out these FAQs about cleaning engineered hardwood.
Can I steam clean engineered wood floors?
When caring for engineered wood floors, steam cleaning is not recommended. Steam mopping uses hot water, which causes engineered wood planks to warp and allows moisture to seep through the floor, compromising the subfloor and the construction of the planks. Unless you want to replace your flooring every few years, steam cleaning is not a proper cleaning method for engineered wood floors.
How do you clean engineered wood floors without streaks?
To avoid streaking and cloudiness on your engineered hardwood floors, it’s important to start with the right cleaning solution. Finding products that are non-streak will make cleaning your floors much easier. Products like Bona or Simple Green Multi-Surface Floor Care are known for their non-streaking results.
Another common cause for streaks and residue is not rinsing and cleaning your mop or mop pad often enough. You can use clean water and solution every time, but if your mop is dirty it will leave residue behind. Make sure you are properly rinsing and wringing out your mop while cleaning and after you’re done.
Is Swiffer good for engineered hardwood floors?
Swiffer mops are an appropriate tool for sweeping and damp-mopping your engineered hardwood. The Swiffer Wet-Jet in particular is one of the best tools for cleaning engineered hardwood. By using the sprayer function sparingly and pressing down on the mop firmly you can clean up any grime or stuck-on dirt without using excessive moisture. Swiffer dry and wet refills are also great alternatives to pick up any loose dirt or handle those tough stuck-on spots.
If there is any leftover water on your floors after using any Swiffer products, be sure to wipe it up with a clean towel to avoid any water damage or warping.
Can you refinish engineered wood floors?
Engineered floors with a 3mm wear layer or thicker can be refinished after years of wear. If the wear layer is less than 3mm, the real wood veneer could be too thin and cause damage to your engineered wood planks. Remember, it’s always best to check with the flooring manufacturer to better understand the correct process for refinishing their floors.
What’s the best cleaner for engineered wood floors?
To find the best cleaner for your engineered wood floors, you can reach out to your floor manufacturer to determine the best cleaner for their product. There are also store-bought wood floor cleaners such as Bona or Simple Green Multi-Surface Floor Care. But if store-bought cleaning solutions aren’t for you, you can create a cleaner with household ingredients like warm water, white vinegar, essential oils, or lemon juice. Ultimately, the best cleaner is whatever works best for you and your floors.
There are, however, some cleaning products to avoid such as ammonia and steam cleaners, as they can damage your engineered hardwood floors.
What’s the difference between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood?
The biggest difference between hardwood and engineered hardwood is how they are constructed, their installation process, and where they can be installed. Each engineered wood plank is topped with a thin layer of real wood veneer to give a realistic wood surface, then made up of man-made materials such as a high-density fiberboard (HDF) or stone-plastic composite (SPC). This construction makes engineered wood low-maintenance with features such as water-resistance. As for installation, engineered hardwood is much more DIY-friendly with a simple tongue and groove installation process. Engineered hardwood can also be installed in more areas of the house than solid hardwood floors.
Can engineered hardwood get wet?
While spills and accidents happen, engineered hardwood should not sit in moisture for long periods. It is important to promptly clean up excess moisture from your engineered wood floors. Otherwise, moisture seeps through the planks to the subfloor and causes your planks to warp.
Can you repair scratches on an engineered hardwood floor?
Just like traditional wood floors, engineered hardwood can get scratched. But instead of refinishing your entire floor as you would with solid hardwood, you repair scratches on engineered hardwood with concealing methods. You can mask the scratch with a concealer that matches your floor, use a floor-matching felt tip craft marker to disguise scratches, or use a floor repair wax kit that matches your floor.
How long does engineered wood flooring last?
Because it’s made from a fiberboard or multi-layer ply core, real wood veneer, engineered hardwood can last a lifetime if it is properly cared for and maintained. Many manufacturers of engineered hardwood flooring even offer a structural lifetime warranty on their engineered floors.
