How often do you mop your hardwood floor?

[chris1gill]

This is probably a common question, but we're moving into a new house with all hardwoods... How often do we need to mop these? We'll be using the Bona Kemi hardwood cleaner on them.

Thanks for any info!

 

[Bichon Barb]

At least once a week. Sometimes I'll run over them with just a damp mop--when the kids run in with their shoes on or the dogs have wet feet.

 

[Kermit]

The most important thing is to sweep or vaccuum frequently. Any hard dirt particles on them will scratch.

I agree that about once a week is probably best, unless your feet start sticking to them before that. I mop ours with just water and vinegar.

 

[Christine]

Originally posted by Kermit
The most important thing is to sweep or vaccuum frequently. Any hard dirt particles on them will scratch.

I second this statement!! This is far more important than the "washing." Once a week is probably good but sometimes even after one week, if I just vacuum the floors still look really good. I am more on a 2-week schedule, although the kitchen needs it more often than that.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I don't hardly ever "really mop" but I sweep and use the Pledge mop thing daily.

But I have 3 dogs and 3 kids.

 

[snoopy]

Sweep every day, wash every week.

 

[luvwinnie]

I vacuum every week, no way can I sweep or vacuum daily. And I mop every few weeks...but we have no kids. The pet hair gets vacuumed. I just don't have the time or energy to do the wood floors AND THE KITCHEN weekly.

 

[AirForceRocks]

We have a parquet floor in our dining room, and I sweep it daily, and usually clean it weekly with Murphy's Oil Soap. It does get cleaned more frequently in the summer time though.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I vacuum mine every day and wash it about once a week with a Swiffer Wet-Jet thingy.

 

[chris1gill]

OK, can I just say you guys are killing me???

Maybe I should have given some more information. The house we're moving into IS all hardwoods (or granite tile), BUT, there are about 2500 sq. ft of the Hardwood... it's not really possible for me to sweep it everyday.... am I going to be sorry I just didn't put in carpet?? I thought Hardwoods would be easier!!!!

 

[AirForceRocks]

In that case, I would sweep the high traffic areas daily (if possible) and make a schedule for doing the others on a weekly basis.

But I'm a scheduler when it comes to housework, so that's how I would do it.

 

[KristaTX]

And I thought I was a neat freak! Compared to some of you I am a complete and utter slob. Maybe it's because I don't have any kids in my house to make messes and don't have any dogs tracking stuff in, but I rarely mop my rooms with wood floors. Maybe 3 or 4 times a year!! I can see mopping the kitchen floor weekly, but mopping the living/dining room seems kind of like shampooing the carpet (which is actually much more prone to dirtiness than hard floors), and I can't imagine doing that once a month, let alone every week. I need to sweep/vaccuum the wood floors a couple of times a week because of the cat hair, but it doesn't always get done that often .

 

[CamColt]

skporter, Im with you. I too thought I was a neat freak, but Im feeling like a slob.
I sweep 1-2 times a week(kitchen obviously more...like 3 times during each meal with my kids), but I only do the thorough cleaning with cleaner & a wet mop about 3x a year(usually November, March & July). I dont have any pets, but I do have kids. For the most part they dont play in the rooms with HW floors. We have HW in the kitchen, living room, dining room, hallway, and stairs.

 

[KristaTX]

Thanks CamColt - I'm glad to know I'm not the only "slob" around here .

Krista

 

[Christine]

Originally posted by chris1gill
OK, can I just say you guys are killing me???

Maybe I should have given some more information. The house we're moving into IS all hardwoods (or granite tile), BUT, there are about 2500 sq. ft of the Hardwood... it's not really possible for me to sweep it everyday.... am I going to be sorry I just didn't put in carpet?? I thought Hardwoods would be easier!!!!

Okay, thanks for clarifying. I also have 2500 square feet of hardwood.

The KITCHEN and BREAKFAST AREA (read FOOD areas) I try to wash once a week but it is more like once every 2 weeks (at that point those areas really need it). As for the bedrooms, hallways, etc., I vacuum them as often as you would carpet. I have dogs so they really need it once a week; however, I've been known to go longer. As for washing those areas, I've had the hardwood floors for 18 months and in that time, I've only washed the bedrooms, etc maybe 3 times.

 

[IMISSDISNEY]

I have hard wood and pergo in my house. I vacuum at least every other day and I wash the floors atleast once a week , if not twice a week on my hands and knees (to get all the dirt and hair up). And my house still does not seem as clean as it could be. Besides my son, I have a great dane ,boxer and cat and they make quite a mess. I have not tried the new mops that have come out for hard wood and pergo but I am thinking I should give it a shot.

 

[Kermit]

Originally posted by chris1gill
...there are about 2500 sq. ft of the Hardwood... it's not really possible for me to sweep it everyday.... am I going to be sorry I just didn't put in carpet?? I thought Hardwoods would be easier!!!!

You don't have to sweep. Just vacuum. It's so much easier. And once every 2 or 3 days is fine. You could probably even do it less in low traffic areas. Just pay good attention to places where people enter the house and where people walk all the time.

 

[Beth]

Timely thread for me..

I tried to use the Swiffer WetJet for Hardwood floors yesterday, and it left it really streaky - anybody else have this problem?

 

[Disney Doll]

I vacuum mine once or twice a week. It's quick and easy. I mop it every couple of weeks. Mine has a water-based acrylic finish on it, so I mop it with window cleaner and water.

Do yourself a favor and find out, if you can, what kind of finish is on it. If it's acrylic water-based and you do it with something like Murphy's Oil Soap or the Pledge wood floor thing, you'll wreck the finish. That's meant more for polyurethane finishes, I think.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

At least once a week I vacuum with the central vac.... I can't wet mop the hardwood as we have the prefinished boards so there is no "seal" on the seams.

Dust and dog hair are more of a pain here than actual dirt. We have two 100 lb. labs and two teen boys.