Hardwood floors look fantastic and wear well, but the flip side of that is that they require particular care and attention when it comes to cleaning and maintaining them. If you don’t look after your floor or if you use the wrong cleaning tools on it, it will quickly start to show scratches and marks, ruining its beautiful appearance.
One of the biggest drawbacks of hardwood floors is that they need to be cleaned with great care, and that might leave you unsure about what sort of mop or cloth you should apply to the floor. Choosing carefully can make a big difference to the longevity of your floor.
Can you use a Swiffer a hardwood floors? You can use a Swiffer sweeper on your hardwood floors, and regularly sweeping and cleaning the floor will help to maintain its shine. However, you should not use a wet Swiffer mop on your floor, or you may leave permanent marks. This is particularly true if the floor is unsealed.
Is it Okay to Use a Swiffer on a Hardwood Floor?
A Swiffer sweeper is an ideal tool for using on a hardwood floor because it helps to pick up bits of dust and grime, and it is sufficiently soft, so it won’t scratch. However, you should be very wary of using a Swiffer mop or a Swiffer WetJet on your hardwood floors under any circumstances.
This comes down more to what you use with the tool than the tool itself. You should not apply water to your hardwood floor, especially if it is not sealed. Unsealed hardwood floors will very quickly show marks and stains if they get wet, and there is a risk that the wood grain will raise, making the floor rough.
Even sealed hardwood floors don’t do well with water being added to the surface. It may get under the seal and similarly cause staining, warping, or even buckling. You should therefore avoid using water on the hardwood.
That said, you can use a lightly damp Swiffer to mop a hardwood floor occasionally. This is a good way to remove dirt, and if you add a splash of white vinegar, it will also help to disinfect the surface. If you are going to do this, you should make sure the mop is only lightly damp, and the floor is drying very quickly after being mopped.
Can You Use a WetJet Swiffer on a Hardwood Floor?
No, you should not use a WetJet Swiffer on your hardwood floors at any time. The purpose of the WetJet is to spray water on the floor. This can be great in some circumstances, but you don’t want it when you are cleaning hardwood. It will make the floor too wet and leave stains and possibly warping.
The less water you apply to your hardwood, the better it should last. While you can use a dry or very slightly damp mop for cleaning, you should avoid moisture overall.
You should also avoid harsh cleaning products, as even some that say they are suitable for hardwood can strip out oils, mess up the wood, and leave stains. Plain water and some diluted white vinegar on a wrung-out cloth should be reasonably safe for cleaning with when your floor needs more than a quick sweep.
Are Swiffer Sweepers Effective for Cleaning Hardwood Floors?
Swiffer Sweepers are good for cleaning hardwood floors, because they offer deep, fluffy fibers that are excellent for catching dust. They can be used dry or wet, but you should only use them dry on hardwood. The soft fibers will effectively capture dirt and hair, leaving your floor much cleaner.
It is a good idea to sweep your hardwood floors as frequently as you can, because this will help to maintain them. If you leave dirt to build up on the surface, it will start to scratch the wood, gradually wearing it out and leaving it looking dull and unattractive.
Regularly cleaning it prevents this from happening, and ensures that the hardwood retains its appearance, so using a Swiffer Sweeper is an important part of maintaining your floor. Other soft, dust-collecting cloths can also be used, but these Sweepers are convenient and excellent at trapping dirt.
What Happens If You Use a Wet Swiffer on a Hardwood Floor?
If your hardwood floor is sealed, you might find that there is no detrimental effect from using a wet Swiffer on it, at least initially. However, the more moisture you add and the more frequently you add it, the greater the risk of damage becomes. You shouldn’t be mopping your floor regularly, or with a lot of water.
Sometimes, you will want to use a damp mop on your floor, but if you do this, you should make sure it dries quickly afterward to avoid the risk of warping and stains. You can use a soft towel to wipe the floor down. Make sure the room is warm to encourage water to evaporate, or use a dehumidifier if the air feels damp.
Standing moisture is one of the biggest dangers to hardwood floors, so bear this in mind whenever you are cleaning with liquids. Moisture stains are often permanent and you might have to sand and re-finish the floor to get rid of them.
How Else Can You Keep Your Hardwood Floor Looking Nice?
Apart from regularly sweeping your floor, you should make efforts to protect it from scratches by putting felt on the bottom of your furniture and cleaning up spills as soon as they happen. This should prevent scratches and discoloration.
You might also want to place mats in your entryways to trap dirt before it gets to the hardwood floors, as mats are easier to clean and much easier to replace than hardwood.
Final Thoughts
You can use a dry Swiffer on your hardwood floors, or a very slightly damp one. However, you should not use WetJet Swiffers or very wet cloths, because the moisture will damage even a sealed hardwood floor quite quickly. Wherever possible, clean your floor without water, using soft brushes or cloths.
