Should i use a steamer on wood floors

To steam clean is basically a process of using heated water vapor. Though, instead of evaporating like water vapor, steam turns into a gas. Moreover, steam does not disappear into the air, it sinks. Steam used to clean a hardwood floor will seep into the seams of the floor if it is not dried right away. Steam is much thinner than liquid water, thus, it is easier for steam to enter through the seams of a hardwood floor.

Once entering the seams, the steam will eventually condense back to liquid water. At this point, the long-term damage can occur. Even if the surface is dried immediately, any bit of liquid that penetrates a seam will be lost forever, unable to be controlled.

This can result in warped hardwood floor. Another important note is to ensure the hardwood floor is completely sealed before steam cleaning. A non-sealed floor is asking for trouble. A steam clean will show its bad side quicker and more extensively in this circumstance.

A sealed hardwood floor, on the other hand, can better protect against the negative side effects of steam. Any hardwood cleaning product that uses actual cleaning ingredients is a safer option. Specific ingredients are meant to work with the water to ensure it does not seep through the seams. Plus, immediately drying the floor will further avoid any issues.

I am very curious as to what makes steam cause damage on hardwood for some, but not others. User error? Sealer quality? Poor installation? Mop type? We may never know! Or use any kind of water to clean them, in fact. Most of these sites swear that a dry cloth is the only way to clean hardwood flooring. Perhaps this would work for an adults-only family with no pets.

Our house is lived-in. Dirt is tracked in and out, along with who-knows-what else. And with a steam mop, the floors only take about 30 seconds to dry. The same goes for most laminate. Using a steam mop on hardwood floors is undoubtedly riskier than simply cleaning with a dry cloth. But for us, the risk is worth the reward until we see real-life examples indicating otherwise.

We use it on our Costco laminate flooring in the master bedroom every week, but we also try to use common sense. But here are the steps we take to try to reduce potential damage from using a steam mop on hardwood floors. When push comes to shove, only you can decide which manufacturer directions you want to follow. Consumer Reports , 4 May Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.

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