Is It Ok To Use Steam On Hardwood Floors

Steam is the big thing that people think is a great sterilizing product and cleaning method but it s really damaging to wood floors or any floor.

Is it ok to use steam on hardwood floors.

As we have seen the question of can you use a steam mop on hardwood floors would tend to suggest you can but if you care about the condition and look of your wooden floors in the long term you really shouldn t. It s common for steam mop manufacturers to warn against using steam mops on unsealed floors a vague direction. The premise is that despite mop manufacturer claims the steam from the mop moves through cracks in the floor more easily than water which penetrates below the sealer and the moisture. Using steam can void the flooring s warranty.

While researching the use of steam mops on hardwood floors i came across article after article that cautioned against using a steam mop on hardwood floors. The fact is there s no such thing as a completely sealed wood or laminate floor. Consumer reports magazine also conducted an independent. However avoid using a steam mop on unsealed hardwoods as they re more vulnerable and easily damaged by excessive moisture.

However even hairline gaps between boards are not bridged by the. Using what i already know is safe for hardwood floors. As a home owner it is important to find out if a steam mop is safe for your hardwood floors or not. Today there are a number of companies that believe it is a good idea to steam clean hardwood floors with the use of their manufactured steam cleaners.

Wood flooring associations such as national wood floor association nwfa and world floor covering association wfca has warned against using steam cleaning devices on hardwood floors. Most hardwood floors are finished with polyurethane a moisture resistant finish. That s true whether you have solid or engineered wood floors and for bamboo too. The indication is that the water when heated to an extremely hot vapor will not cause damage to the hardwood floors as long as they are properly sealed.

Some steam mop manufacturers such as shark and bissell may say you can use it on a sealed hardwood floor but. Most hardwood flooring will come with a manufacturer s or a retailer s warranty. Never use steam or steam cleaners on a wood floor or even a mop with hot water because water in vapor form can enter the pores of the wood and create damage from cupping to finish degradation. Using a steam mop on my hardwood floors at least once to see for myself how well steam cleans hardwood flooring.

The bona spray mop and bona liquid hardwood floor cleaner.