Hardwood floors can appear clean at first glance while still holding a thin layer of soil and cleaning-product residue.
Many wood floors are protected by a urethane surface coating, sometimes strengthened with aluminum oxide for added durability. Routine cleaning with a cotton or microfiber pad and a neutral cleaner can help maintain these floors, but it may not remove all the soil that builds up over time. Some cleaning products can also leave behind residue, gradually dulling the floor’s appearance.
The good news is that a professional cleaning process can often make a noticeable difference without requiring the floor to be completely refinished.
Aramsco has long offered a system for cleaning finished hardwood floors and, when needed, applying a Hardwood Preservation Finish over the existing urethane coating.
The preservation finish provides an additional wear layer, helping protect the floor’s original finish. Before it is applied, however, the floor must be thoroughly cleaned and properly prepared.
A low-moisture extraction machine, such as the Lindhaus LW38 Floor Scrubber, can scrub the surface while recovering the cleaning solution and loosened soil. This helps remove residue instead of simply spreading it across the floor.
One of the biggest benefits of this process is that the cleaning alone may restore much of the floor’s original appearance. Removing the buildup can bring back the clarity and sheen of both satin and gloss finishes, meaning a preservation finish may not be necessary after every cleaning.
Hardwood floor cleaning can be a natural addition to an existing carpet, rug or hard-surface cleaning business.
For example, rug cleaners who remove area rugs from a customer’s home already have an opportunity to inspect the exposed flooring underneath. Offering to clean the surrounding hardwood floors can add value for the customer while creating an additional source of revenue for the cleaning company.
Before beginning, inspect the floor to confirm that it is suitable for the process. Follow the flooring manufacturer’s recommendations along with all product and equipment instructions.
Thoroughly sweep and vacuum the floor. Pay close attention to edges, corners and areas that were previously covered by rugs or furniture.
Removing dry soil first prevents loose debris from interfering with the cleaning process or scratching the floor.
Add Hydro-Force Heavy Duty Hardwood Cleaner to an extraction machine designed for wood floors, following the product’s dilution and usage instructions.
Move the machine evenly across the entire floor to loosen and extract accumulated soil and residue. Immediately mop or towel up any moisture that is not recovered by the machine.
Heavy Duty Hardwood Cleaner is designed specifically for use in a wood-floor extraction system. It should not be used as a prespray and must be followed by a neutralizing rinse.
Add Hydro-Force Wood Fresh Hardwood Cleaner to the extraction machine and make another pass across the floor.
Wood Fresh is designed to neutralize the floor following the use of Heavy Duty Hardwood Cleaner. It also helps remove remaining residue while preparing the surface for a preservation finish when one will be applied. Once again, immediately remove any moisture that is not recovered by the machine.
For additional sheen, the floor can be polished with a 17-inch White Super Gloss Buffing and Polishing Pad and a rotary floor machine such as the Hydro-Force VersaPro.
Use the machine and pad according to their instructions, and always confirm that polishing is appropriate for the floor’s existing finish. The VersaPro is designed for several flooring applications, including hardwood cleaning and preparation
Hardwood floors do not always need another coating to look noticeably better. In many cases, removing the layers of soil and cleaning residue is enough to bring back the floor’s natural appearance.
By adding professional hardwood floor cleaning to your services, you can provide customers with a visible result while helping them maintain and protect the finish they already have.
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