The typical first apartment is pretty low-budget, so if you’re lucky enough to have hardwood floors in your first apartment, you’ll want to take care of them! Read on below for everything you’ll need to know to clean and maintain hardwood floors in your first apartment.
Sweep or vacuum regularly
Regular sweeping is important to keeping your hardwood floors clean. Doing so will not only help the floors look nice daily, but you’ll also be able to sweep up any fallen food that might harden and be more difficult to clean later. Sweeping regularly can make it so you don’t have to deep clean your floors as often.
You can also vacuum your floors, but doing so tends to work better for carpet than hardwood. Consider getting a small cordless vacuum to take care of tough corners and tricky spots, and sweep the rest of your floors.
Mop or spot mop
You’ll want to regularly mop your hardwood floors every week or two, especially the floor near your front door and in your kitchen. You can use a conventional mop or a flat mop with disposable wet pads. If you don’t have a mop, simply spot mop with a wet rag or microfiber cloth whenever you see a spot that’s sticky or dirty.
Either way, be sure to use a gentle cleaning agent that’ll break down any tough gunk or stains without damaging your floor. Use a spray specifically made for cleaning hardwood floors, as some other cleaning products can bleach the floor or leave stains.
Try using vinegar
Vinegar is one of the most helpful parts of any DIY household cleaner, as it’s harsh enough to clean any surface but won’t ruin your clothing or floor. Mix two parts water with one part vinegar, and add in a lemon rind or any essential or fragrance oil to fill your apartment with a nice smell afterward.
This solution works great with a mop, or you can just spray it on any sticky or stained spots on the floor, leave it for 10-15 minutes, and clean it up with a microfiber cloth. Be sure to try this trick in a small corner of your apartment first, as some hardwood floor finishes don’t react well to vinegar.
Tea is great for more than drinking
Teabags contain something called tannic acid that can break down gunk on your floor and leave them looking shiny when you’re done. Let a few tea bags steep in a pot of boiling water, and then dump the tea into a bucket and use it for your mopping, or to rub on your floors afterward for a pleasant shine and smell.
Take care of your floors
Prevention is easier than cleanup, so take precautions beforehand to make sure your hardwood floors stay nice. Consider putting sliders on the bottom of your couch and table legs to keep them from scratching the floor, and be sure to lift furniture instead of sliding it whenever you move things around.
