How to Clean Hardwood Floors Plus, common cleaning ingredients to avoid (they’ll ruin your floors over time!).

Want to ensure you’re taking proper care of your hardwood floors? Just follow these easy steps from Michael Dimopoulos, a Thumbtack House Cleaner and the founder of Lazy Susans Cleaning, and your floors will shine again in no time.

1. Collect loose dirt and dust, and prepare your hardwoods for a thorough cleaning, by vacuuming them.
2. Then use a hardwood-friendly floor cleaning solution and mop to wash them. Michael suggests the Bona Hardwood Floor Spray Cleaner and Floor Spray Mop, which features a microfiber pad and fluid spray so you can spray and go.
3. Complete the process by using a hardwood floor polishing cloth, which you can attach to your mop, to apply a floor restorer. This will make your floors look new and give them a high gloss finish. Michael suggest the Floor Shine Refresher from Rejuvenate. Use this on floors every 3-6 months for year-round shine.

You may also want to consider placing a rug over your hardwood floors—especially in highly trafficked areas. This will help protect them, and minimize wear and tear over the years. You’ll also want to avoid harsh or abrasive products like vinegar, wax, and soap-based solutions, and any sort of steam cleaners, which can damage your floors over time.