Natural wood flooring is very easy to look after and will last a long time when properly cared for. You do not need to spend a long time cleaning and polishing your wooden flooring, a little time spent every few days or weekly will be enough. There are lots of proprietary products available in the shops which will clean and care for your wooden floor. There is also a cheap and effective old fashioned remedy which is a good alternative and that is distilled vinegar, the clear one that you sprinkle on your chips.
The easiest way to clean your floor is to begin by sweeping it with a broom, ensuring that you get into all the corners and awkward places to remove the detritus that accumulates in such places. When you have done that, you will need to wash it. Begin by mixing 150ml of clear distilled vinegar with 4.5 litres of warm water. Never use very hot or boiling water as this will damage your wood, it should be hand hot, i.e. comfortable to put your hand in. The vinegar/water mixture will leave the floor clean and fresh without using chemicals. Your mop should be manufactured from a soft material and must be clean before you start because any gritty bits trapped within the fibres may scratch your wooden floor. Begin by mopping the floor and make sure you squeeze your mop out well so that your floor is not being soaked. You only need your mop to be damp and not soaking wet. Mop carefully around the floor, making sure that you get into the corners. When you have finished, you might need to wipe the floor dry depending on how wet your mop was. An old towel or a clean dry mop would do the job well enough and this will have the added bonus of giving the floor a bit of a polish without making it slippery.
Remember that regular cleaning will keep your wood flooring in excellent condition and will make it last for many years to come.
