Asked on Jan 20, 2014
Steam cleaners for wood floors
by
Betty
+7
Has anybody use the shark steam cleaners on their wood floors. I am curious is the heat good for the wood floors and does it harm the finish or shine. I was thinking of purchasing one.
9 answers
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I have successfully used a steamer on a variety of floors. It cleans them all very well. I am extremely pleased. They are quite safe and you are not using any harmful products to dull or remove finishes.
Dottie
on Jan 20, 2014
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I have been using the shark on our wooden floors for the last year, and it works wonders, couldn't believe how dirty the water was the first couple of times.
Vivian Hansen-Aulet
on Jan 20, 2014
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You are forcing water into the wood, this will damage the wood and eat through the finish. You won't see the damage now but you will see it. This is the worst thing to use in wood floors.
Sherrie
on Jan 20, 2014
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Engineered wood, also called composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board; includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers or boards of wood, together with adhesives, or other methods of fixation [1] to form composite materials. I clean for a living. Before I clean clean anyone's floors or even my own I find out everything about them. I would never use a steam cleaner in a engineered floor. If you ruin the finish on a lot of these floors it can't always be sanded and re-sealed, one house I clean their flooring had a plastic layer on top to protect it, this was a very very high end manufactured flooring, and it was peeling from the use of a steam cleaner. They had it fixed but it kept peeling anyway. And theirs was a floor that could be resurfaced. Or their other alternative was to replace a section of it. On her floor it called for Bona and a microfiber mop. But this was her floor. I don't know who manufactured your floor. Because it is a compressed floor water will damage it. Because it is compressed the layers forgive me if I say it wrong...kind of glued together. Steam cleaners cause more damage then all the cleaning they do in my opinion. Find out who manufactures your floor. If you don't know find a floor like it and google the manufactory cleaning guidelines. They will give you the does and don't on flooring. I own two steamers. I have never used then on wood. I take off the bottoms and steam clean tile in rentals with it. I also own a commercial steam cleaner and clean my tile floor with it twice a year. Or in a commercial building. The sales people always tell you these are prefect for wood, they don't know or care. Call a wood flooring company and find out what they think.
Sherrie
on Jan 20, 2014
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Do not use steamers on engineered wood floors. From my experience (used it for 4 years), the floors will dull and if there are any scratches the steam will eventually peel away the finish. I loved my steam mop but now I do not use it. I did read the reviews 6-7 years ago when I got my first one and it said safe for wood floors (it may be for true wood floors that are sealed properly). When we did the kitchen floor I put in a beautiful engineered wood floor. The finish dulled after time but it was gradual -- I used my steam mop at least 2x a week and now my floors have "issues". I have pets and messy teen so I am always cleaning and I want something that is easy to use. So over Christmas I bought a big refill jug of Bona wood floor products~I started using it and now my wood floor is finally getting its shine back. I bought a Libman spray mop where you refill it yourself and wash the pads. Works great and easy to grab and wipe up spills. I have pets and a messy teen so my floors see a lot of clean up. I do not use anything that adds to our landfills and being able to throw it in the wash is a must. Note: The steam mop did not hurt my other wood floors that are sealed with poly and do a great job cleaning but I would not take a chance again on any other floor that is wood or man made that has any seams, gaps, or cracks. Steam is great for tile, linoleum, and hard surfaces.
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Jan 21, 2014
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We use a Shark steamer on our hardwood floors with no problems at all. In fact, a rep from Bruce Flooring was at the local Home Depot and he recommended it. It is best used in the direction the wood runs to get any gunk out of the grooves, and DON'T let a plugged-in steamer sit in one place for too long as it may leave a water mark if there's a thinner finish coating. Finish the job with a hardwood cleaner-polish like the Bruce kit and it comes out nicely.
Dave M
on Jan 21, 2014
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I grew up on hardwood and we were very careful with it. I also have hardwood in my living room and dining room...would never think of using steam on it! I just couldn't! It is too expensive and too hard to put down to take a chance. A damp mop is all I would every use...and would do small areas at a time and wipe dry.
Jeanette S
on Jan 21, 2014
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Steam on wood is damaging it. You are forcing it into the wood. I also purchased a steam cleaner...the Oreck dealer told me it was great on wood. He was wrong. He is not a flooring expert. I purchased it to cleaned grout...they will sale you a line of anything to sale their product. Before I clean anything. I read the manufactories guidelines. I am in the cleaning business have been for years. My job is to know surfaces and the best way to clean without creating any damage. Engineered wood flooring is pressed together. Steam on this floor will damage it. My best advice is to get the right product or green cleaning method for it. And that is go to their cleaning guideline sight and use their directions, they know their product and have the correct cleaning methods for it. We installed hardwoods in my Mothers house. Her new flooring guidelines used Bruce cleaner instead if Bona. My cleaner left it streaked, hers made it prefect. I didn't follow her guidelines. See there is a difference. Not everything goes. Her floors were exotic, Mine were oak hardwoods, their sealers were different. That makes a difference.
Sherrie
on Jan 26, 2014
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i've used a steamer on mine with no problem. It's not a shark though.
Rob289659
on Jan 29, 2014
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