Cleaning Parquet: Tips for Keeping Your Natural Wooden Flooring Elegant and Tidy

Parquet flooring adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to any home, but it requires regular maintenance to keep its shine and natural beauty. It’s made of individual pieces of wood, which are arranged in a pattern, and therefore, require a specialized approach when it comes to cleaning. In this article, we will discuss the tips you need for cleaning parquet floors to keep them looking their best.

Frequent Cleaning Parquet Wood Floors

You should be cleaning parquet flooring regularly to remove dirt, dust, and debris that accumulate and stick on its surface over time. The best way for frequent maintaining your parquet floor is using a soft-bristled brush or vacuum cleaner with an attachment for hardwood. This approach will help prevent scratches to its surface. When working with a vacuum cleaner, ensure that the brush or attachment is free of debris to avoid damaging the parquet.

For more precise cleaning, after removing the dust and debris wipe out with a microfiber mop, which is slightly wet, as excess moisture can cause damage to the wood. You should use either a specifically designed for parquet floors cleaning solution, or a mixture of small amount of mild dish soap with warm water. Ensure that it is applied evenly and allow the solution to sit for a few minutes before wiping it off with a clean, dry cloth. It’s important to avoid using abrasive cleaners or scrubbing pads, as they can scratch the parquet and cause irreparable damage.

Natural Cleaning Parquet Floors with Vinegar

Nowadays, more people are interested in homemade substitutions to the usual cleaning methods, and one may ask: “Can I clean parquet with vinegar?” This chemical is a natural and an affordable removing dirt and stains solution for parquet floors. However, it should be used sparingly and diluted with water to avoid damaging the wood. Here are the recommendations how to do cleaning parquet floors with vinegar:

• Mix equal parts of white vinegar and warm water in a bucket.
• Dip a soft cloth or mop into the solution.
• Wring it out until it is damp, and avoid it to be dripping wet.
• Clean the parquet, working in small sections.
• Dry the surface with a soft cloth to remove excess moisture.

Deep Cleaning Parquet Floors

Deep cleaning penetrates inside the surface of the parquet floors to remove stubborn stains and dirt that still stay there after the regular cleaning. It should be done periodically, at least twice a month. Here is the best way how to do it:

• Apply the detergent evenly to the surface.
• Allow it to sit for a while.
• Wipe the surface of the parquet with a damp cloth or mop.
• Dry the surface of your flooring with a clean cloth.

Deep Steam Cleaning Parquet Floors

Steam cleaning is a successful method for deeply removing dirt, dust and stains from parquet floors, but it should be done carefully. As excess moisture can cause the wood to warp and expand, and with incautious usage you can also dissolve the adhesive substance, which holds the individual pieces of wood together. When you decide to use a steam cleaner, ensure that it is specifically designed for hardwood floors applications, and that it has adjustable steam settings. Then switch on the lowest possible power and avoid holding the steam flow in one spot for too long to prevent swelling of the parquet.

Beneficial Tips for Cleaning Parquet Floors

The following tips and approaches will help to maintain the beauty and shine of your parquet floors:

1. Avoid to leave any wet on your parquet floor surface. This can lead to warp and swell, therefore, it is important to use minimal moisture when cleaning it.
2. Use a soft-bristled brush or vacuum cleaner with hardwood attachment. These are the best tools for regular cleaning of parquet floors. Avoid using rough scrubbers, especially scrubbing pads, which can scratch the surface.
3. Clean the stains and dirt with specialized detergent. It is important to use a cleaning solution, which is specifically designed for parquet, to ensure it will do no harm to the wood.
4. Remove the spills immediately. Spills and stains should be cleaned immediately to prevent them from seeping into the depth of the parquet and color it or warp it.
5. Cover with mats and rugs. Placing mats and rugs in high-traffic areas will help to protect the surface of the parquet from scratches from shoes and heavy objects.
6. Maintain regularly. It’s the key to keeping parquet floors looking their best. Weekly cleaning is enough to prevent unwanted accumulation of stains and debris.

Parquet floors are so good-looking, adding charm to your rooms, but they require periodical maintenance to keep them shining and clean. With proper care, your wooden floor can be a personable and lasting investment in your home.