DIY Guide: How to Clean Wooden Porch Floor

Wooden porch floors are extremely delicate. Therefore, you can’t clean them with soap and water as you would with other floor types. In fact, wooden porch floors need a special treatment in order to keep them looking good.

Certainly, there are many different cleaning products on the market. But most of them are too harsh for wooden surfaces. So, if you don’t want to end up ruining the aesthetics of your new wooden porch floor, you should choose the right cleaning kit.

In this article you’ll learn everything you need to know to clean your wooden porch floors like a pro. You’ll also find a detailed list of the different elements that can’t be missing in your personal cleaning kit.

When You Should Clean a Wooden Porch Floor?

You need to clean your wooden porch floors at least once or twice a week. It all depends on the traffic and the conditions to which the floor is exposed. For example, in wooded or desert areas, the air is always dusty. Consequently, your wooden porch floors will be covered with a thin dust layer almost all the time.

So, if your wooden porch floors need a daily sweep to keep dust away, do so. Fortunately, cleaning wooden porch floors isn’t as difficult as it seems. Also, porches don’t have as much floor space as your house internal floors. So, you won’t waste too much time on cleaning labors.

No Too Much Water

It isn’t recommended to apply too much water on the surface during cleaning. If a small amount of water is deposited on the floor boards, the wood will absorb that water. Wet wood tends to decompose and emit bad odors. Also, mold and mildew stains will appear all over the surface.

Use Damp Cloth

It’s best to use a damp cloth to guarantee that most of the water will be on the fibers and not on the floor. If you have enough money, buy specialized products for wooden floors. These cleaners contain polymers and other substances that help repel water and increase shine.

Do Not Use Harsh or Acid

It isn’t recommended to use too harsh or too acid substances, like vinegar, lemon juice and ammonia. They can dull the varnish layer. It’s also not a good idea to apply oils, waxes and similar substances on the surface. The floor will get slippery and somebody could have an accident. It’s better to apply these products on wooden walls and railings.

Wooden Porch Floor Cleaning Kit List

To clean wooden porch floors the right way, you need the right cleaning tools and products. Below, you’ll find a detailed list with all of them.

Step by Step Guide to Clean A Wooden Porch Floor

1 First of all, sweep the floor to remove all the accumulated dust. Use a broom with soft bristles to avoid scratching the surface.

2 After that, mix a quarter cup of neutral dishwasher soap in a bucket of water. Then, soak a dry cloth in the soapy water. Squeeze the cloth to remove as much water as possible.

3 Then, attach the damp cloth to a mop and begin cleaning the surface. Divide the floor into small areas and focus on one area at a time. Doing this will allow the floor to dry better.

4 When the cloth gets too dirty, remove it from the mop and wash it with plenty of soap and water. Then, restart the cleaning process.

5 When you finish cleaning, wait several minutes for the floor to dry completely. Then apply specialized products to seal the surface and increase shine.

Conclusion

As you can see, you don’t need to hire professional cleaning services to keep your wooden floors looking like new. You just need to avoid too harsh chemicals and use the right cleaning tools and chemicals. Also remember to protect your wooden porch floors from prolonged exposure to water. Humidity is the worst enemy of wooden porch floors, so keep them dry so they can last longer.

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Learn more: Wooden Porch Floor Paint.