You should never attempt to unleash the cleaning power of a Shark® steam mop on a hardwood floor unless the entire floor has been sealed. A range of different sealants – including waxes and resins – are used to create a protective barrier against moisture and other contaminants.
Sealed hardwood floors can withstand the moisture and heat from a steam mop, and they clean really nicely with a streak-free finish. However, avoid using a steam mop on unsealed hardwoods, as they're more vulnerable and easily damaged by excessive moisture.
Some steam mop manufacturers, such as Shark and Bissell, may say you can use it on a sealed hardwood floor, but Stocki recommends against it because moisture could still possibly force itself into the joints between the boards and get into the wood and warp it.
The Shark Steam Mop is an excellent mop to use on floors of all types. You can even use it on hardwood floors and on laminate floors if you are careful about the setting and how you mop. Plus it will sanitize the floor so any pets and small children will stay safe and healthy.
Since our Laminate is made with wood, avoiding its exposure to moisture is a must. Cleaning Laminate Floors: Do not use steam cleaners or wet mops, which may cause irreparable damage to your floor. Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen.
Begin by dusting or sweeping your floors well. Then make a cleaning mixture using 4 cups warm water and a few drops of castile soap or dish soap. Do not shake, but gently mix this, then mop or scrub small sections at a time, drying them with a clean cloth or dry mop after."
Soft microfiber mops work best on hardwood floors. You can spray a sanitizing cleaning solution or hardwood-friendly cleaner on before dusting for a deeper clean, but a mop with a gentle microfiber pad is the best option for engineered wood or hardwood floors.
Steam mopping
Shark® steam mops bring a spotless clean to your hard floors, from hardwood to tile, with sanitizing* power to boot.
Steam mops work by producing steam under pressure and 'forcing' it into cracks and crevices that might get missed with other cleaning methods. Flooring that has gaps or cracks (however small) is vulnerable to damage, and materials like vinyl might warp with the heat.
To tell if your wood floor is sealed, find an inconspicuous area, dab a drop of water on the surface, and see if it soaks in or beads on top. If the water drop beads on top of the wood, your floor is sealed. Surface-sealed floors are stain and water-damage resistant and easiest to clean.
Why is your floor sticky after you steam mop? The reason why your floor is sticky after steam mopping is using too much cleaning chemicals. Even the mildest of cleaning solutions, if used in heavy dilution, will cause floors to become sticky. The soapy residue dries and is left behind.
That's why we recommend using a steam mop to clean cabinets. They're especially helpful for people searching for steps on how to clean wooden kitchen cabinets, since wood can be a tricky material to clean. Just make sure the cabinets you're cleaning are sealed wood, otherwise the steam may damage them.
If you don't mind the cord, the best stick vacuum for hardwood floors is the Shark – Rocket DuoClean HV382. With more suction than any other model in our stick vacuum review, the unique dual-brushroll DuoClean system also takes top marks for grabbing dirt and small objects on hardwood floors.
On the hardwood floors, the Vertex was flawless, capturing 100% of all debris tested. The soft roller brush really makes a tremendous difference on hardwood floors. Many upright vacuum cleaners simply push cereal and other large debris forward on hard surface flooring.
You can safely use Swiffer products on hardwood floors. For a quick clean, try Swiffer WetJet Wood Starter Kit. With just the right amount of solution, it breaks up tough, sticky messes, brings out the natural beauty of your floors and won't damage them. Go with the grain to ensure the best clean possible.
Do not wet mop wood flooring.
Excess water will lead to damage of the floor, and even the subfloor.
Once a week, wood floors should be cleaned in high traffic areas with a damp mop. Low traffic areas can be done less frequently, like once a month or once a quarter. Unsealed wood floors are more susceptible to water, so make sure that the mop is just slightly damp.
Is it better to sweep or vacuum hardwood floors? While sweeping is a great way to clean up large debris, it's best to vacuum hardwood floors to get rid of fine dust and particles that sweeping may miss, especially in the wood floor crevices. Every one to two months, wet-clean surface-treated wood floors.
The Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away Speed vacuum solves those problems with a set of features that work together to clean on hardwood flooring and carpeting without harming either.
To kill offensive odors present in your carpet, upholstery, and other furnishings quickly, fill your steam cleaner's solution reservoir with a 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar and the remainder with hot water. Do not add a soup solution. The vinegar and hot water solution will neutralize the odor and remove it.
Steam cleaning thoroughly cleans blinds. A damp cloth will work for touch-up cleaning. For a more thorough cleaning, a steam cleaning unit can be used. Hot steamer vapors not only lift dust, but also kill dust mites and mold.
High temperature steam disinfects and sanitizes almost any kitchen surface. Surfaces cleaned with steam dry faster than those cleaned with water. Steam gets into the cracks and crevices that are normally hard to reach or impossible to clean otherwise. Steam dissolves sticky kitchen grease quickly and easily.
Unlike traditional mops, the mop head absorbs the dirt, and the heat of the steam is able to kill most of the bacteria and dust mites on the floor. It is not only a faster means of cleaning but also a more sanitary one.
You cannot use the product in the steam cleaner.