If you’re lucky enough to have hardwood floors in your home, then you already have an appreciation for how beautiful they can really be. Of course, if you want to keep them beautiful you will need to know how to clean them properly. Hardwood floors need at least a weekly cleaning, and a more intensive quarterly cleaning. You have to give them some special attention, however, since they are very prone to scratches and bleaching. Daily Cleaning First, sweep the floor. Then, take a soft sponge mop and treat it with Pledge. Use the sponge on the baseboards as well as on the floor boards. This will help you keep dirt, dust, and pet hair all under control. You never want to use the same solution that you’d use on a tile floor, and you don’t ever want to douse your wood floors with water. Quarterly Cleaning A good quarterly cleaning will require you to purchase a wood-cleaning product. Every product is different, so you’ll want to follow the instructions very closely. Some will call upon you to damp-mop your floor. The key here is “damp:” you want to just wet down the floor enough to help the product do its job. Leaving pools of standing water can and will damage your floors! Spot Cleaning Spot cleaning should be used when you get a mark on your hard wood floor. You can usually use a little bit of vinegar and water to get most stains out, especially if those stains are very new. A little detergent might help with some of the tougher stains. Stains that penetrate the wood, however, should be handled by professionals so they don’t permanently damage the floor. Those stains may need to be sanded and refinished. If you make cleaning your hardwood floors part of your home cleaning routine then they should serve you well for many years to come!