Hardwood floors are one of the easier types of floors to clean, even if you have pets and children running in and out of the house. In fact, cleaning does not have to be a hard job. If you regularly clean your floors every few weeks, then you can ensure that your hardwood floors stay sparkly and new-looking, even if they are not.

However, many people let their hardwood floors stay dirty for a little longer than usual. If you need more than just a quick rub down to return your floors to shiny and new, then you've come to the right place. Below we've listed a few pointers to help ensure your hardwood floors get, and stay, clean from now on.

First of all, you will need to remove all the dirt and debris from the floors. This may include dog hair, gravel from outside, cookie crumbs and anything else that accidently made its way to the floor. Either use a broom or a vacuum cleaner and give your hardwood floors a quick brush over. This will take only a few minutes and will ensure that the next steps run smoothly. If you leave the dirt and debris on the hardwood floor, then dirt and grit can scratch and ruin your floors during the next few steps.

The next step when it comes to cleaning your floors is to use a floor cleaner on them. A floor cleaner will ensure that your hardwood floors stay shiny and new looking. Many people choose to spray the floor directly with the floor cleaner; however, you can also spray the cleaner onto a soft cloth and clean the floors as this is easier.

One very important tip to remember is to never spray water on the hardwood floor- although it makes sense to mop with water this is not the case with hardwood floors. Water can cause the wooden tiling to warp and bend if it seeps into the cracks. This is most certainly not the look you are going for.

With your floor cleaner and soft mop, mop the floor in sections. Make sure you mop the sprayed section first and then move onto another section, spraying as you go. You can continue to spray directly onto the floor or onto the mop. Move the mop lengthwise until there is no moisture left on the hardwood floors.

That's it! You're done.

Now onto the hard part- keeping the hardwood floors clean. The best way to ensure that your floors stay clean for the longest amount of time is by setting up some ground rules- no shoes on the floor, clean up after spills, and no letting the muddy dog into the house!

Hardwood floors can add a touch of elegance to any room, as long as they are kept clean. So, next time you notice your hardwood floors looking a little worse for wear, follow the above tips. In no time your hardwood floors will be looking professional and shiny once again.

Copyright (c) 2009 Wes Fernley