Hardwood is naturally a very absorbent material and exposure to water can cause it to plump warp twist and mold.
How to steam wood floors.
For hardwood floors low or medium level is.
There is the low medium and the highest level that are set according to the cleaning needs.
A steam cleaner by its very nature uses water heated to a very hot vapor to clean and disinfect the surface of a floor.
Your floors should dry pretty quickly but you can speed up the process by turning on a ceiling fan or drying the floor with a microfiber cloth.
Sealed hardwood floors can withstand the moisture and heat from a steam mop and they clean really nicely with a streak free finish.
You need to be picky when buying a steam mop as you need to ensure that it cleans your hardwood floors with ease.
Some steam mop manufacturers such as shark and bissell may say you can use it on a sealed hardwood floor but stocki recommends against it because moisture could still possibly force itself into.
For a neutral solution you want a ph level of about 7 or matched to cured poly.
Steam can dull the finish and damage the wood.
In lieu of using steam or even water to clean your hardwood floors it s preferable to use a commercial hardwood floor cleaner.
Modern steam cleaners have advanced features such as the ability to adjust the level of steam pressure.
What to use to clean hardwood floors.
Unless you use a steam mop designed for cleaning hardwoods steam cleaning is not advised for hardwood floors.
However with lots of brands in the market deciding on the best steam mop can be daunting.
Save it for tile linoleum and vinyl.
Some wood floors strictly forbids the use of steam cleaners lest the warranty will become null and void.
Higher is too alkaline and lower is okay for an all purpose cleaner but not here.
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 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.