Winter can be hard on hardwood floors. Salt, sand, snow, mud, and moisture tracked inside can dull and damage your beautiful floors. As spring arrives, it’s time to refresh your floors and restore their shine. With some basic cleaning tips and recommended products, you’ll have your floors looking like new again.
Why Floors Need Cleaning After Winter
Hardwood floors can suffer damage over the winter months for a few key reasons:
Salt
Road salt and de-icing salts cling to shoes and get tracked inside. The sodium in salt can corrode and pit hardwood floors when moisture is present. Salt also has an abrasive texture that can scratch floors.
Sand and Grit
Sand and grit from roads and sidewalks act like sandpaper on your floors. All that traipsing back and forth across the floors scuffs and scratches the wood surface.
Moisture
Winter weather means wet boots and dripping coats. Excess moisture that penetrates the floor’s finish can cause the wood to swell and the finish to degrade.
Dirt and Grime
Normal dirt and grime builds up more over winter as we track in leaves, mud, slush, and more. Dull, dirty floors lose their luster.
How to Clean Hardwood Floors After Winter
Here are some tips for cleaning and restoring shine to hardwood floors after a long winter:
1. Remove Grit and Debris
First, sweep or vacuum up any loose dirt, sand, salt or grit. Debris can scratch the floor if you move it around while cleaning. Choose a vacuum with a hardwood floor attachment to avoid scratches.
2. Wash Floors
Mix a hardwood floor cleaner (like Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner) with water in a bucket per label instructions. Use a microfiber mop to wash floors. Avoid excessive water. Work in sections and mop up dirty solution. Let floors fully dry.
3. Use Salt Remover if Needed
For salt stains or residue, use a product made to remove salt from hardwood (like Basic Coatings’ Squeaky). Apply to stains, let sit briefly, and wipe away. Rinse with clean water.
4. Reseal Floors if Needed
If floors look dull or worn, reseal them with a new layer of polyurethane or hardwood floor finish. Lightly sand floors first for the new coat to adhere. Apply 2-3 thin coats as directed, sanding lightly between each.
5. Consider Refinishing for Deep Cleaning
For a deeper clean and renewal of your hardwood floors, consider refinishing them. This involves sanding floors down to bare wood and applying new stain and polyurethane. Best left to professionals.
Recommended Cleaning Products
Having the right cleaning products helps get floors clean and undamaged:
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Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner – Gentle, effective for regular cleaning.
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Basic Coatings Squeaky – Removes salt residue without damaging finish.
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Bona Hardwood Floor Refresher – Revives shine in between deep cleanings.
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Bona Microfiber Floor Mop – Won’t scratch floors like a sponge mop.
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Libman Floor Scrub Brush – For tougher spots and grout lines.
Take Care Year-Round
A good floor cleaning each spring will refresh your floors, but year-round care is important too:
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Wipe up spills quickly to avoid moisture damage.
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Sweep, dust mop or vacuum often.
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Use floor mats at entryways to reduce grit.
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Avoid walking on floors with spike heels or cleats.
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Keep floors out of direct sunlight to slow fading.
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Maintain proper humidity in the home for hardwood health.
With some elbow grease and the right techniques, you can banish dull winter floors. A clean set of gleaming hardwoods is just in time to welcome spring.
