Will A Steam Mop Damage Hardwood Floors

But they aren t for wood floors.

Will a steam mop damage hardwood floors. In many cases you ll void your warranty if you steam clean a wooden floor or vinyl tiles. 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 can cause the hardwood to warp buckle. 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.

Although it may be tempting to deep clean your hardwood floors with a steam mop don t. Sealed hardwood floors can withstand the moisture and heat from a steam mop and they clean. Flooring manufacturers and refinishing professionals caution that steam can damage all types of wood floors including solid hardwood engineered flooring and.

Replacing this type of flooring is expensive. Forcing steam into gaps and cracks can cause irreparable damage such as swelling warping delamination and joint line separation. Test the cleaning pad on a small area of the floor.

Is your steam mop damaging your floor. Steam cleaners put heat and excessive water on your floor which can lead to cupping and long term damage. A hardwood floor may have small cracks that are invisible to the naked eye.

As with laminate we don t recommend the use of steam cleaners on hardwood either. Drastic temperature changes and moisture may warp the wood says steve stocki manager of marketing and. The use of a steam cleaner would clearly violate that rule.

The number one rule of hardwood maintenance is never to use water. Though durable on the surface engineered hardwoods are bonded using adhesives and the.