Can You Steam Clean a Hardwood Floor?

Owning a wooden floor means you want to ensure perfect upkeep and maintenance for it so you can make sure you enjoy your favourite floor for decades and still in the perfect condition and appearance it was installed with years ago. Now, real wood floors are definitely an investment, therefore it is understandable why you want to ensure the best for your floor. Of course, a big part of the wood floor maintenance is the good, proper, regular, and thorough cleaning of the floor. While a good wood floor cleaning routine does not require too much of your time, energy, or money, it is certainly something that has specific guidelines you want to follow for ensuring perfect results and a durable, beautiful, and long-lasting floor. However, is a lot of cleaning sometimes too much cleaning? And where do you draw the fine line between taking proper care of your hardwood floor and honest over-cleaning?

Some people just love to make sure that every nook and corner of the house is extra clean and perfectly disinfected. Soon or later, each one of these people would get a steam cleaner. Indeed, a steam cleaner is a reliable, hard-working, and efficient helping hand in your cleaning routine. You can use your steam cleaner for taking care of practically everything in your home. Or is it anything and everything? In this article, we will discuss more whether you can and should use a steam cleaner for your hardwood floor, stay tuned to learn more.

Can You Use Steam Cleaners For Your Hardwood Floor?

The short answer to this question is yes. Yes, you can use a steam cleaner for cleaning your wooden floor. However, a steam cleaner is not recommended for use on every type of wooden floor. In fact, steam cleaners can only be used on fully-bonded, hard-sealed wooden floors. In case your wooden floor does not fit the description above, unfortunately, you do not have to use a steam cleaner and using pressure steam can lead to a number of major issues with your hardwood floor.

A hard-sealed surface is a necessity if you want to use a steam cleaner on hardwood flooring. For example, oil and wax finishes have a pretty natural effect and they pretty much leave the surface of the wooden floor open-pored, so the steam can penetrate into the wood’s structure and lead to extreme expanding and contracting of the floorboards as this is the natural reaction of wood to increased humidity, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. As a result, this “movement” of the floorboards can lead to a bunch of potential issues and problems you definitely do not want to experience and deal with.

Best Practices for Steam Cleaning Hardwood Floors

1. Assess Floor Condition: Ensure the hardwood floor's finish is intact without any worn-out patches or damage.
2. Repair Any Damage: Address any cracks, dents, or deep scratches before proceeding with steam cleaning.
3. Pre-Cleaning Preparation: Thoroughly vacuum the surface to remove dirt and dust particles, minimising the risk of scratching during steam cleaning.
4. Optimal Steam Settings: Set the steam cleaner to the lowest steam and pressure settings to avoid excessive moisture. Ensure the cleaning pad is slightly damp, not wet.
5. Choose Suitable Equipment: Invest in a steam cleaner that can be regulated or one specifically designed for hardwood flooring to prevent damage.
6. Even Cleaning Process: Perform the cleaning process swiftly and evenly across the floor's surface to minimise moisture accumulation in any one area.
7. Use Multilayer Wipe Covers: Utilise multilayer wipe covers to reduce water and moisture left on the floor's surface.
8. Avoid Prolonged Pauses: Avoid pausing for too long in one spot to prevent excess moisture buildup. If a pause occurs, promptly dry the area with a wipe.