Hardwood floors are simple to care for and keep clean. The important thing is to remove dust from your wood flooring on a regular basis. A vacuum cleaner designed for cleaning wood flooring effectively and sufficiently is the best cleaning tool for this task.
The right tool makes cleaning much easier because it requires little effort and produces amazing results. Therefore, whether you have a lot of wood flooring or a small piece in your home, a vacuum cleaner is essential.
However, you may be wondering why you would need a vacuum cleaner for your wood flooring. This article delves deeper into the essence and significance of a vacuum cleaner for your wood flooring. Keep reading to learn more.
In this post we will cover:
- Why a vacuum cleaner for your wood flooring?
- What types of vacuum cleaners are good for hardwood floors?
- What should I look for in a hardwood floor vacuum?
- Do robot vacuums scratch hardwood floors?
- How should I prevent a robot vacuum from scratching wood flooring?
- What are the tips for maintaining hardwood floors?
- Why can’t I keep my hardwood floors clean?
Why a vacuum cleaner for your wood flooring?
Vacuums for cleaning hardwood floors effectively trap dust and dirt and efficiency is key when you would rather spend less time cleaning. If you use a regular broom for such a task, you will spend more time swishing dust and dirt from the floor into the air and back onto the floor.
Swiffers and dust mops are also not helpful because even though they capture dirt, the particles will be rubbed over your floor surface instead of lifting it away. However, with a vacuum cleaner, everything is sucked into the machine and trapped in the dust canister.
The complete seal suction makes it easy to continue cleaning without any scratches or the need to stop and change the Swiffer cloth or a mop head. It is also a great feature for those who suffer from allergies, especially with a HEPA filter vacuum.
If you regularly vacuum your wood flooring, it will be neater than when you regularly sweep or mop it. That is because a vacuum has the ability to suck dirt and trap it inside the machine, while the broom just moves it around, allowing it to accumulate in various places.
Since dirt is collected in the dust container or bag and filters, it helps to eliminate a significant amount of debris from the air. To ensure that the flooring is completely clean and neat, follow the vacuuming with a cloth that is slightly wet once a week.
Many vacuum cleaners for hardwood floors are multipurpose because they come with additional accessories and tools which make them essential in any household. For instance, most of them have crevice tools and upholstery attachments for cleaning under and between cushion sofas.
A vacuum cleaner for your hardwood floors is a good investment because if you are using a dust mop, you will have to replace or wash the pad every time you use it. However, a vacuum cleaner will give you a ready option every time since most vacuums have filters that need cleaning once per month.
While a vacuum cleaner costs more than a broom or mop, the investment is worth it since the machine is durable and can be used many times.
What types of vacuum cleaners are good for hardwood floors?
You cannot simply use a regular upright vacuum cleaner on wood flooring because there are specific types of vacuums suitable for wood flooring.
Although an upright vacuum has powerful suction, it is built for thorough carpet cleaning and to eliminate dirt embedded at the bottom of the carpet fibers.
The beater bar in the unit has rigid nylon bristles which are responsible for digging into dust and dirt deeply embedded in the carpet fibers. The tough bristles of the beater brush and its harsh functioning can scratch and damage your wood flooring.
Therefore, the best kind of vacuum cleaner for your wood flooring should have delicate bristles or opt for one without a roller altogether. The rollers may be good for carpets, but they can be deadly for hardwood floors.
Remember to confirm if the vacuum cleaner has separate brush rolls for carpet and wood flooring or whether it has an option for switching the brush roll off when cleaning wood flooring.
A vacuum for hardwood floors should have powerful suction that is capable of accessing places between wood planks effectively. Ensure that the machine has options to adjust the suction capacity of the unit.
Vacuum cleaners with such characteristics include a canister vacuum cleaner that does not have a rotating beater brush and is light in weight. The second type of vacuum is a stick vacuum cleaner which is specifically built to clean wood flooring and other surfaces.
The stick vacuum cleaners do not have rough bristles or separate attachments for carpets and wood flooring. The third is an upright vacuum cleaner with a soft-bristled brush roll or an option for turning the beater bar off.
Therefore, canister, stick, and upright vacuum cleaners cannot scratch or damage hardwood floors.
Conclusion
A vacuum cleaner is great on wood flooring if you use the right type of vacuum and correct attachments. There are several vacuum models suitable for cleaning wood flooring without causing any damage.
The vacuums include canister, stick, and upright vacuums with an option of turning the beater bar off or ones with soft-bristled brushes.
A vacuum cleaner for your wood flooring has a lot of benefits, including making cleaning easier and trapping all the dust, dirt, and allergens collected.
These vacuums are multipurpose as they can clean other areas and surfaces in your home, diversifying their cleaning tasks. Although the vacuums may be more expensive than a broom or mop, the investment is worthwhile.
FAQs
What should I look for in a hardwood floor vacuum?
Brush rollers or attachments for hardwood: the brush rollers for hardwood should be soft-bristled so that they do not scratch or damage your wood flooring.
The soft brush can sweep away debris from crevices and cracks between wood floorboards. It can also nab the finest dust particles to give your floor a thorough clean.
The brush attachments are usually low enough to access difficult-to-reach areas such as under furniture. If your only option is a vacuum model with a rotating brush, look for one with an option to switch the brush off.
Weight: consider how much weight you are willing to push around when vacuuming, and be sure to check the weight of the unit you are purchasing.
If your house has various levels, it will not be an easy task to carry around a heavy machine from room to room or up and down the stairs.
Strong suction: strong suction power is essential in any vacuum for hardwood floors. The suction can pick up large debris, fine dust or dirt, and pet hair. It is also excellent at nabbing particles lodged between the planks of wood.
Style and design: every style and design of a vacuum cleaner suits different needs. Cordless vacuums are great for those who constantly switch rooms while vacuuming. Canister vacuums are versatile and do an excellent job at cleaning different surfaces.
The wheels: a vacuum that will be extensively used on hardwood floors should have rubber wheels or rubber bumpers if it is a canister vacuum. The rubber will prevent any dent, scratches, and dints that are caused by hard plastic wheels.
Do robot vacuums scratch hardwood floors?
Robot vacuums are considered efficient and convenient when it comes to vacuuming your floors. The significant concern is that they may scratch or scuff up wood flooring. However, robot vacuum cleaners do not damage hardwood floors.
Most robot vacuums are manufactured with rubbery wheels and soft brushes, which are safe for various surfaces, including hardwood floors. However, there is a risk, as with any vacuum.
Things such as sand, dirt, and small objects may get stuck underneath the device or between the wheels. The debris may drag around for some time and scratch your floor since many people rarely monitor their vacuums while running.
An exception is the Roomba robot vacuum, whose front pivoting wheel may cause issues. The pivoting wheel is made of hard plastic, as opposed to the vacuum’s other two rubber wheels. The wheel is likely to scratch wood flooring more when it comes into contact with debris.
When the Roomba device is turned on, the pivoting wheel spins in all directions across the hardwood floors, potentially leaving circular scratches. Softer wood flooring is more susceptible to scratches, but any wood floor has this potential risk.
How should I prevent a robot vacuum from scratching wood flooring?
Pick up large debris such as sand, rock, dirt, or any plastic lying around your floor. That is because the wheels of the robot can get caught on them and drag them around, causing dents, scratches, and scuffs.
Also, pick up any cords or wires that the robot may get tangled in because the device may move them around, causing damage to the floor.
Choose the right vacuum designed for hardwood floors or multiple surfaces which include hardwood floors. Consider devices with fewer complaints on hardwood floors, such as Roborock, Shark, or Eufy.
Sweep any hair on the floor, since hair can get trapped in the wheels and prevent them from spinning when they are supposed to spin. If the wheels do not rotate properly, they will drag and rub the floor, causing damage.
If the vacuum cleaner is a Roomba, tape the pivot wheel to prevent scratches. The tape needs to be replaced often. If you do not have electrical tape, you can use a thick rubber band. Regularly clean the machine to ensure that the wheels spin freely.
What are the tips for maintaining hardwood floors?
Clean often: hardwood floors are durable and can last for many years if they are properly cared for. Therefore, establish a cleaning routine based on what suits your household, which can be monthly, weekly, or daily.
Screening or buffing: consider screening your floors if you have polyurethane finished floors. This is where the existing coat of the floor is removed and replaced with a fresh one.
That is a great way to maintain your floor’s look, as the polyurethane finish tends to wear down.
Use rugs and mats: place a mat at your doorway to collect dirt when someone enters the home instead of bringing the dirt inside. Your floors may be scratched by dirt brought inside. Putting rags under large furniture prevents scratching when the furniture is dragged.
Avoid excess water: when hardwood floors are exposed to excess hard water, the floorboards will swell and separate. Avoid water, soap, mops, and steam mops when cleaning food flooring.
Instead, maintain the floors with vacuum cleaners, microfiber cloths, and recommended liquids.
Cover furniture feet with rubber: put rubber covers on your furniture’s legs whenever you drug the furniture. Also, avoid furniture with rollers or wheels because they are not manufactured with hardwood in mind.
Why can’t I keep my hardwood floors clean?
Nature: Nature is one of the problems with keeping your wood flooring clean since dirt particles and dirt usually come from outside into your house. The particles are small enough to slip through open windows, even those with fine mesh, and rest inside your home.
Your skin also creates some traces of particles or dirt when the cells in your body break down because expired skin will fall off. If you have pets, expect more hair and dust buildup on your floors.
High traffic areas: the areas in your home that have high traffic such as the kitchen, entryways, and hallways will always have more grime and dirt. Such areas require extra cleaning to keep them neat.
Cleaning products: you would think that cleaning products would prevent dirty flooring, but while many can do so, some have chemicals and additives that can leave residue on your wood flooring.
The multiple uses of such products will cause a thick layer of residue to begin to form on the floor.
Air filer: if your home has a heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, expect constant dust buildup over time. An HVAC system that is well-tuned will give a balanced amount of cold or warmth to every part of your home.
The downside is that dust spreads in a balanced way throughout your home as well. Change the air filter as required to reduce the level of dust that spreads in your home.
