With its durability and longevity, engineered wood flooring is a popular choice for homeowners. But, like any floor, that doesn’t mean it’s invincible. Without tender love and care, engineered wood is prone to damage like scratches, stains, dullness and general wear.
So, if you’re sitting there thinking ‘how do you clean engineered hardwood floors?’ Then this blog post is for you.
Let’s explore how you can keep your floor clean, shiny and long-lasting.
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How to Prevent Damage to Engineered Wood Floors
It might seem impossible to keep your engineered wood floor looking perfect. Especially, if you’ve got little ones running about, a partner who forgets to take their shoes off and pets prone to ‘zoomies’. But, it isn’t!
Preventing damage begins at the front (and back) door. With a doormat and a shoes-off policy, you’re stopping dirt and grit from entering your home. Stones and debris can get stuck in your shoes, leaving scratches against your engineered wood’s surface. It’s best to wipe your outdoor shoes on your doormat and trade them for cosy slippers.
Engineered wood flooring and pets aren’t the best of friends either. But, there are ways to lessen any damage (or at least disguise it). Trimming your pets’ claws regularly will help prevent scratches and placing mats under their bowls will reduce damage from stains or spills. Of course, spills and stains of any kind should be wiped up immediately too.
The type of finish you choose for your engineered wood will also offer protection. Brushed and oiled effects are perfect for hiding scratches, while the water resistance of lacquered wood will help with accidents and spills.
You’ll want to place large area rugs under heavy furniture like sofas or dining tables. These will stop them from scratching and leaving dents in the engineered wood. You can also use protective pads on the feet of your furniture to help long-term.
It’s recommended that rugs and furniture be rotated regularly. This will help evenly distribute wear and tear. When moving furniture, remember to lift it. If you drag heavy pieces, they’ll likely leave marks that are difficult to remove – if not impossible.
But why is it important to prevent damage?
Like anything that isn’t cared for properly, it won’t last long. The durability and longevity of engineered wood floors are dependent on you taking proactive steps. While it isn’t the most expensive material, engineered wood floors aren’t cheap. You don’t want to be spending more money on repairs when simply caring for them properly will keep them beautiful and functional for years to come.
How to Clean Engineered Wood Floors
Once or twice a week, you should gently sweep or vacuum your floor. This will stop dirt and dust from building up. When it comes to mopping your engineered wood, make sure the mop is damp and not soaking wet. This only needs to be done once in a while to remove more persistent dirt.
You’ll also want to use soft attachments and brushes to prevent scratching the surface. Microfibre mops are good, but they aren’t a must-have. Anything soft will do the job!
The Best Way to Mop Engineered Wood Floors
Unlike solid wood, engineered wood flooring has a layered construction that offers better moisture resistance. However, that’s not to say engineered wood is waterproof. Excessive water exposure can cause serious problems including:
- Warping and buckling from water seeping into the seams, causing planks to swell and lift
- Delamination, which is when moisture weakens the adhesive layers and causes them to separate
- Staining and discolouration developing from the floor not drying properly.
To avoid these issues, it’s important that you use the right mopping method.
- Gather your supplies: a soft or microfibre mop, two buckets, a pH-neutral wood floor cleaner and a dry microfibre cloth or mop.
- Fill one bucket with clean, warm water and mix in a small amount of wood-safe cleaner.
- Fill the second bucket with clean water for rinsing.
- Dip your mop into the cleaning solution, then wring it out thoroughly until it’s just damp.
- Mop in the direction of the wood grain to prevent streaking.
- Rinse the mop in the second bucket to remove the dirt before repeating the process.
- Once clean, you need to use a dry microfibre cloth or mop to remove any remaining moisture. Opening windows or turning on fans can help to speed up drying too.
How to Deep Clean Engineered Wood Floors
Regular maintenance, such as vacuuming and damp mopping, can keep your engineered wood flooring looking great. But, over time your finish can become dull or cloudy from product buildup. Stubborn stains can refuse to budge with regular cleaning. Dust and debris can also find their way into crevices and joints. And this is when a deep clean is needed.
You can easily deep clean your engineered wood floors by:
- Moving your furniture and rugs to access the entire floor
- Vacuuming thoroughly to remove loose dirt and debris
- Using an engineered wood-specific cleaner to avoid damaging your floor
- Lightly dampening a mop with the cleaner
- Wiping in the direction of the wood grain to prevent streaks.
Deep cleaning can remove some of the protective layers, so it’s important to refinish your floor afterwards.
For oiled finishes, you’ll need to use a specialised wood oil to restore its lustre. Apply a thin layer with a clean cloth or buffing pad and allow it to dry as instructed.
For lacquered finishes, you should use a water-based polish or refresher designed specifically for lacquered floors. Apply it with a microfibre mop in even strokes before letting it dry completely.
By deep cleaning every 3-6 months, you’ll maintain the integrity of the wood and finish, preventing your engineered wood flooring from long-term damage!
How to Remove Scratches from Engineered Wood Floors
Known for being durable, engineered wood, like any wooden surface, can still develop scratches over time.
The most common culprits for scratches can come from dragging furniture without protective pads across your floor, pet claws, sharp or heavy footwear, dirt and debris as well as improper cleaning.
For light surface scratches, there are some simple DIY solutions that can help minimise their appearance.
- Touch-up pens are available in various wood tones. These can help blend small scratches into the surrounding area. All you need to do is apply the pen over the scratch, let it dry and gently buff the area with a soft cloth.
- Applying a small amount of wood oil or polish can help darken shallow scratches. Simply use a microfibre cloth to rub the oil into the scratch, following the grain of the wood. Allow it to be absorbed before wiping off any excess.
- Wax filler sticks are perfect for deeper scratches as they fill in the damaged area, creating a smooth finish. You just need to choose a colour that matches your flooring, rub the wax into the scratch and buff the area until it’s blended.
Keep in mind that for more severe damage, you’ll need to seek professional help. Deep gouges or dents may require professional repair or board replacements. Extensive scratching across large areas can make DIY solutions impractical. Water damage or warping should also be assessed by a flooring specialist to prevent further deterioration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you steam mop engineered wood floors?
Using a steam mop on engineered wood floors will cause excessive moisture to seep into the wood. This can lead to warping and swelling. The high temperature of steam can also weaken the adhesives that hold the layers of engineered wood together.
What’s the best cleaner for engineered wood floors?
There are a lot of cleaners specific to engineered wood floors that you can use. Products with a pH-neutral formula are best as they don’t contain harsh chemicals that could damage your floor’s finish.
How often should you clean engineered wood floors?
Once or twice a week with a soft-brush vacuum or broom and a weekly or fortnightly damp mopping should be enough to keep your floor in pristine condition.
We also recommend a deep clean every 3-6 months to keep on top of any debris build-up.
How do you remove stubborn stains or scratches?
You can remove stubborn stains from wood flooring by gently blotting the area with a bit of pH-neutral engineered wood cleaner. For tougher stains, try a diluted solution of mild dish soap and water. But, we recommend testing a small, discreet area of your floor first. Just to make sure it won’t damage your finish!
For scratches, a colour-matched wax stick or touch-up marker can help mask the scratch. But for scratches that go beyond the surface, you might need to use a wood repair kit or consult a professional.
Always check your floor manufacturer’s guide before using a new product on your floor!
Must-Have Products to Protect and Maintain Your Engineered Wood Floors
Designed to deliver gentle and effective care, our must-have cleaning and maintenance products can prolong the beauty and life of your engineered wood flooring.
We offer intensive wood cleaner for stubborn stains as well as a natural wood soap for regular cleaning. For deep cleaning and care, we also offer a wax and clean solution.
For stubborn stains and dirt, we offer an Intensive Cleaner for wood flooring. For regular cleaning, our natural Wood Flooring Soap will do a great job getting rid of dirt. To top it all off, we offer a Wax & Clean solution to bring your engineered wood to life.
Get Social
Still stuck about how to clean engineered wood? Get in touch with our friendly flooring experts and they’ll help you out.
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, where you can tag us using #MyLuxuryFloor to show off your beautifully maintained engineered wood floor. You can also check out our TikTok and mention us @luxuryflooringfurnishing for more advice and inspiration.
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