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Can You Vacuum Hardwood Floors

Can You Vacuum Hardwood Floors? Cleaning Expert Explains!

Yes, you can vacuum hardwood floors thanks to its polyurethane coating that maintains durability, but you’ve to follow some tips and tricks to avoid scraping the floor:

  • Invest in a lightweight upright vacuum cleaner
  • Turn off the rotating bars
  • Vacuum in the direction of the floor as it was laid

Continue reading for a detailed guide on vacuuming hardwood floors.

Table Of Contents

Should You Vacuum Hardwood Floors?

Should Hardwood Floors Be Vacuumed

Yes, hardwood floors should be vacuumed to remove dirt and maintain their shine. You should vacuum at least once a week as a cleaning routine to avoid pet marks becoming permanent and grime leaving a dirty spot on the floor.

Interesting To Note:

Polyurethane sealant makes wood floors durable, making them easier to vacuum.

What Vacuum Can You Use on Hardwood Floors?

Cylinder, stick, and robot vacuum cleaners are best for hardwood floors. Your vacuum should be lightweight with rubber wheels to move it around easily.

How To Choose the Right Vacuum To Use on Hardwood Floors?

  • Your vacuum cleaner should have a powerful suction to clean dust, dirt, and pet hair, food remains, and other nasty stuff easily.
  • Your vacuum cleaner should have a custom hardwood floor option.
  • There should be a soft spinning brush roll with an option to turn on/off.
  • The vacuum’s wheels should be soft or padded to avoid scratches on the floor.

How To Vacuum Hardwood Floors Without Scratching? 

How To Vacuum Hardwood Floors Without Scratching

Steps Before Vacuuming

Adjust Vacuum Suction

  • Turn on the “hard floor” setting in your vacuum cleaner.
  • Clean the vacuum bag and rollers thoroughly to enhance the vacuum’s suction.

Use Broom First

  • Clean the surfaces you want to vacuum with a soft-bristled broom.

Steps During Vacuuming

Steps During Vacuuming

Clean in the Floor Direction Slowly

  • Start vacuuming the hardwood floors in the corners, where most of the dirt accumulates.
  • To suck up dust from the cracks of hard floors, vacuum in the direction of the floor as it was laid.
  • For a staggered hardwood floor pattern, vacuum either vertically or horizontally, and for a basket weave pattern, first vacuum the floors vertically and then horizontally.

Skillfully Clean From Corners

  • Move the vacuum cleaner patiently across the corners.
  • Vacuum over the same surface twice for extra shine.
  • Do not apply too much pressure on the handheld vacuum machine, or it will create scratches.

Steps After Vacuuming

Mop for the Finishing Touch

  • Have a simple cleaning solution (soap water) and a mop.
  • For the final touch, mop the hardwood floor using a damp mop.
  • Blow dry the floor using a fan or a dry cloth.

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Avoid bringing shoes inside the house.
  • Use valves or blocks for furniture to avoid scratches on the floor.
  • Do not wet clean hardwood floors with any harsh cleaning chemicals.

How Do I Make My Hardwood Floors Shine?

How Do I Make My Hardwood Floors Shine

To make hardwood floors shine, follow the following tips to clean hardwood floors:

  • Place carpets and rugs at the entrance to avoid shoe marks, dirt, and harsh stains.
  • Schedule a weekly vacuum routine for cleaning hardwood floors, whether or not you spot dirt on hardwood floors.
  • Do not let the liquid spills and water stand on the hardwood floors for long to maintain the shine.
  • Wet clean the hardwood floors using a wet mop at least twice a month.
  • Avoid using vinegar and ammonia as cleaning solutions to maintain the shine.
  • Never use a vacuum with a bristle bar or beater bar (at the bottom of your vacuum cleaner), as it damages the hardwood floor’s shine.
  • Invest in a decent vacuum cleaner with rubber wheels, not plastic wheels.

Can You Vacuum Hardwood Floors FAQs

Can all vacuums be used on hardwood?

You can use any affordable vacuum cleaner on hardwood, provided it has strong suction power and rolling brush rolls with stiff bristles to suck dirt from carpets and floors, which you can turn on/off.

What setting do you vacuum hardwood floors on?

You should vacuum hardwood floors on the vac’s “hard floor” setting, which allows the vac to work only in suction mode by deactivating the brush roll. Turning off the brush roll is important to keep your hardwood floors safe.

Is it better to sweep or vacuum hard floors?

Water spills and standing liquids can damage the shine of hard floors, so it is better to vacuum hardwood floors with specialized filters like HEPA. Mopping does not remove fine dust particles from the floor for long, so having a cordless stick vacuum or robot vacuum suited for hardwood floors is better.

How often do you have to vacuum a hard floor?

You should vacuum a hard floor once a week to save it from scraping and scratches, using a lightweight vacuum with custom hardwood settings.

What not to use on hardwood floors?

You should avoid cleaning products having vinegar or ammonia as a base on hardwood floors because the acidic properties will ruin the hardwood leaving spotty patches everywhere.

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