Can You Use A Steam Cleaner On Wood Floors

The premise is that despite mop manufacturer claims the steam from the mop moves through cracks in the floor more easily than water which penetrates below the sealer and the moisture.

Can you use a steam cleaner on wood floors.

Sealed hardwood floors can withstand the moisture and heat from a steam mop and they clean really nicely with a streak free finish. For the longest time i believed that the only way to effectively clean my floors was with a fancy expensive cleaning liquid. If you re planning on steam cleaning the floors regularly purchasing your own device will ultimately pay for itself after enough use. On the low end a steam cleaner can cost as little as 100.

With improper use a steam cleaner can severely damage your floors and it shouldn t be a tool that you use every day. At the end of the day you can use a steam cleaner on the hardwood but there are very specific rules that need to be followed in order to protect the integrity of your flooring. You can choose to use a chemical based floor cleaner or use a steam powered mop to sanitize your floors and get them to sparkle. Today there are a number of companies that believe it is a good idea to steam clean hardwood floors with the use of their manufactured steam cleaners.

As a homeowner you may rent or buy a steam cleaner or hire a service provider to perform the job. Some steam mop manufacturers such as shark and bissell may say you can use it on a sealed hardwood floor but. Hardwood is naturally a very absorbent material and exposure to water can cause it to plump warp twist and mold. That s true whether you have solid or engineered wood floors and for bamboo too.

While researching the use of steam mops on hardwood floors i came across article after article that cautioned against using a steam mop on hardwood floors. Steam cleaners put heat and excessive water on your floor which can lead to cupping and long term damage. Avoid using water and vinegar soap based cleaners wax or steam cleaners on your hardwood floor. The indication is that the water when heated to an extremely hot vapor will not cause damage to the hardwood floors as long as they are properly sealed.