How to Clean Old Hardwood Floors?

Hardwood floors are easy to clean but old ones require some special care. This article discusses how you can clean old hardwood floors using different methods.

Just a Pro Tip: Select a method and cleaner compatible with the type of hardwood flooring in your home.

3 Ways to Clean Old Hardwood Floors Without Sanding

Sanding is a labor-intensive cleaning technique and it often damages the luster of  hardwood floor if not done carefully.

1) Moping

• Vacuum or broom the floor to remove dust and debris.
• Make a solution by adding some dish soap to a bucket full of warm water.
• Wet and squeeze the mop in the cleaning liquid and start mopping.

2) Cleaning with lemon solution

• Remove dust and debris from the floor with a vacuum or  a broom.
• Add a half cup of lemon juice to a bucket filled with lukewarm water.
• Dip a sponge in the solution and gently scrub the floor until the dirt and junk are removed.
• Go over the whole area like this for a clean and fresh-smelling floor.

3) Use a hardwood cleaner

• Use a hardwood floor cleaner to remove the spills and stains on your floor.
• It is recommended to deep clean your hardwood floors once in a while to make them look like new.

How to Clean Old Hardwood Floors After Removing Carpet?

Hardwood floors look like a mess after you remove the carpet from them. Carpet removal leaves glue, stains, and scratches on floors. You may notice slime and fungus if the carpet wasn’t cleaned periodically.

Here’s how you can clean old hardwood floors are removing a carpet.

1) Remove any leftovers of your carpet

Use a floor chisel, cutters, or adhesive removers to remove any carpet leftovers, glue, stains, slime, mold, and mildew from the hardwood floor.

2) Start by sweeping

Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove dust, debris, or carpet pieces. Don’t forget to pick large pieces by hand if you are vacuuming.

3) Mop with vinegar solution

A diluted vinegar solution can work wonders for your old hardwood floors. It works as a cleaning agent and removes grime and bacteria. Make sure your hardwood floor is not vinegar sensitive before applying this method.

• Add some vinegar to warm water and mix it well; add 3-4 drops of essential oils to eliminate vinegar smell.
• Test the mixture on an inconspicuous spot on your floor to ensure it doesn’t leave any stain.
• Clean the entire area if the results are good.

4) Water and soap

Some hardwood floors are vinegar sensitive. You can use a mixture of dishwashing soap with water if your hardwood floor is sensitive to vinegar.

5) Hardwood polish

Polish your hardwood floor with a commercial polish to give it a new-like shine. Carpets make hardwood floors dull; polish can restore them.

Cleaning Heavily Soiled Hardwood Floors

Cleaning a heavily soiled hardwood floor can be difficult sometimes.

Here are some tips to make your cleaning quick and simple.

1. Start by sweeping the floor with a vacuum cleaner or a broom.
2. Scrub the surface gently with a hardwood cleaner or a homemade solution.
3. Leave the surface to dry for a few minutes.
4. Repeat the process if required.
5. Apply hardwood polish for shine.

Is there any difference between cleaning an old hardwood floor and a new hardwood floor?

No. Deep cleaning old hardwood floors is almost the same as cleaning new ones. You must pick a method and cleaner compatible with the hardwood floor in your home and test the cleaner first before cleaning the entire room.