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How to Vacuum Hardwood Floors

Christen da Costa Avatar

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Updated Jun 27, 2022 11:12 PM

Learning how to vacuum hardwood floors will help you keep expensive flooring beautiful for longer. Regular maintenance is crucial for the upkeep of any type of hardwood. That’s why it’s important to always choose a top-performing vacuum cleaner. Incorporating vacuuming into your hardwood floor cleaning routine, with a high-quality vacuum for hardwood floors, is excellent for keeping things cleaner.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Natural hardwood is a lot sturdier than laminate or other imitations available, so keep that in mind when choosing the right vacuum cleaner for the job.
  • Never attempt to vacuum spills of any type, as this can ruin your vacuum at best and electrocute you at worst.
  • Prioritize suction power when looking for a new vacuum cleaner since it determines how well it can clean hardwood floors.

Vacuuming Hardwood Surfaces Correctly

Everybody has an opinion on how to vacuum hardwood floors properly (or how to vacuum carpeted stairs). People also have opinions on which vacuum is perfect for hardwood floors, like our review that discusses the Bissell PowerEdge pet hardwood floor bagless cleaner. However, it’s best if you decide for yourself. The information below will dispel any myths or misconceptions you may have about keeping your flooring scratch-free, beautiful, and long-lasting.

Insider Tip

Incorporating vacuuming into your hardwood floor cleaning routine is excellent for keeping things cleaner.

What to Consider When Vacuuming Hardwood Floors

Before you begin vacuuming or shopping for a new vacuum, there are a few things to consider. For example, you want to use the correct type of vacuum. You’ll also want to keep up on the maintenance of your floors. All the vacuuming in the world can’t save you if you neglect other cleaning duties.

Use an Appropriate Vacuum Cleaner

An affordable vacuum might drive a hard bargain, and it could be a top-choice vacuum for vinyl plank floors. But, it might also leave behind microscopic particles or scratches. This is especially true if it’s not the correct type of vacuum for the job. Robot vacuum cleaners are a popular choice because they’re noiseless, gentle, and generally, have settings made just for hardwood flooring.

Insider Tip

Robot vacuum cleaners are a popular choice because they’re noiseless, gentle, and generally, have settings made just for hardwood flooring.

Keep Up On General Hardwood Floor Care

Make sure you incorporate regular sweeping and mopping into your cleaning routine. These both will help your vacuum cleaner do a better job. They’re not replacements for each other. Instead, they’re complementary tasks that help you stay on top of household chores. Your vacuum will perform far better on dry hardwood that is well maintained. Additionally, you will get more use from your vacuum if you know all the parts of a vacuum and how they work.

Tips for Vacuuming Hardwood Floors

There are a few tips that will make your life infinitely easier when dealing with cleaning hardwood floors. Here are a handful of the best ones out there to help you feel like a total professional:

  • Never use a beater bar vacuum on your hardwood floors
  • Prioritize powerful suction power when shopping
  • Do not attempt to vacuum liquids of any type
  • Mop your hardwood floors after vacuuming for best results

Warning

All the vacuuming in the world can’t save you if you neglect other cleaning duties.

F.A.Q.

Are vacuums safe for hardwood floors?

Depending on the flooring types in your house, the answer will be slightly different. Investing in a hardwood floor vacuum can mean a gentler clean. This translates into no damage done. Natural hardwood is pretty sturdy, but laminate and other types of imitation hardwood can scratch easily.


What are the different types of vacuums?

There are several types of vacuum cleaners to choose from when shopping around. Here is a list of the main styles available:

  • Upright vacuums
  • Cordless vacuums
  • Robot vacuums
  • Stick vacuums
  • Handheld vacuums

Will a robotic vacuum clean hardwood floors?

Almost any robot vacuum cleaner will be able to take care of your hardwood floors. You might need to adjust settings, however, like height or cleaning mode. Robotic vacuums come highly recommended since they’re so easy to use, saving both time and money.


When is it better to vacuum, rather than sweep, hardwood floors?

Your daily cleaning for hardwood floors should include sweeping them. If a lot of debris has accumulated, then vacuuming should be your go-to. Generally, you’ll want to vacuum at least once a week to keep things tidy.


STAT: Fluctuating humidity levels can damage hardwood floors over time, so keep a room’s relative humidity level stable between 35 percent and 55 percent by using a humidifier in dry conditions and an air conditioner or dehumidifier in hot weather, Barnett says. (source)

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