Can a Steam Mop be Used to Clean Wood Floors?

The short answer is, you can clean wood floors with a steam mop and get good results, but you could also damage them if you're not careful.

In this article, I'll let you know some of the potential problems that come with steam mopping wood floors and why you might want to avoid trying it. I'll also offer some advice on choosing a steam mop and how to get the best results with one, if you decide you want to try it anyway.

Before you decide to clean your wood floors with a steam mop, consider the risks.

The warranty on many newer wood floors will be voided if you use a steam mop on them. There are a couple reasons for this. When used improperly, a steam mop can remove the finish from pre-finished and engineered wood floors (I've seen it happen,) and can cause buckling at the seams on solid, engineered, and laminate floors. The signs of this kind of damage are easy for a professional to spot, so if you do screw up your floors using one, you will void your warranty.

As the owner of a wood floor, you are probably aware that water damage is one of the worst things that can happen to it. The problem with steam mops is that you are blasting a cloud of moisture directly onto the floor, and that moisture can reach into places where the floor's finish is inconsistent, (like between the boards.) However, if you avoid using too much steam, it is possible to steam mop many wood floors without damaging them. Some very cheap floors (particularly cheap laminates,) might not be able to withstand it at all though, so you if you're not sure about the quality of the floor, think twice. If you buy a steam mop, make sure that it features a trigger or button for releasing steam, located on the handle and easy to use.

Getting good results from a steam mop on wood floors is possible, if you use the right technique.

It doesn't take a great deal of moisture to clean a wood floor that's properly cared for otherwise. When steam mopping, you should only trigger the steam occasionally and keep the mop moving as you do. A better option is to lift the mop away from the floor and trigger the steam only to dampen the cloth on the mop head. If you can find a steam mop that is light enough for you to lift from the floor, that might be the best option for you. Another would be a canister type steam cleaner with a floor mop attachment. The floor attachment will be plenty light for anyone to lift. This option gives you the added benefit of being able to clean a great number of things besides just floors.

The trick to getting floors beautifully streak free with steam mop is to keep the floor cloth as clean and dry as possible. This means you will have to change it fairly often depending on how dirty your floors are and their size. With that in mind, look for a steam mop that allows you to change the cleaning cloth quickly and easily. If you can't change it in about three seconds, you probably will avoid changing it is often as it needs to be. Don't buy one without trying this feature out first. Canister style steam cleaners often feature a floor attachment that is very easy to change the cloths on, and can accept any cloth. Most stick type steam mops require that you use only specially made cloths that, ordered from the manufacturer.

When using your steam mop, If you come across a sticky spot on the floor that gives you trouble, don't try blasting steam at it continuosly in an attempt to lift it. You usually have to rub at it, moving the mop back and forth over the spot. A short blast of steam to heat up the cloth helps, but no more. Excess steam just makes a mess and is hazardous to the floor. Sometimes a little squirt of vinegar from a spray bottle is what it takes, other times you might just bend over and use a cloth in your hand.

Using distilled water in your steam mop will give better results than tap water in most cases. Minerals in hard water can leave streaks and shorten the life of the mop. Try to avoid using powdered laundry detergents or powdered laundry additives, they can also cause streaks.

Steam mopping can be a fast and easy way to clean your wood floors, but you have to be careful and consider the risks if you decide to try it.

There's really nothing to say that the average steam mop will yield any better results than vinegar, water, and a cloth on wood floors. They are great on tile and vinyl though, so they are not without their merit. I personally prefer to use a steam vapor machine, which is similar to a canister type steam cleaner but produces a much "dryer" steam at a higher temperature. I will be writing on the benefits and draw backs of steam vapor machines in the future, so if you are interested, please stay tuned!