Are Steam Mops Safe To Use On Hardwood Floors

Mop manufacturers claim the mops are safe to use on a variety of flooring.

Are steam mops safe to use on hardwood floors.

Drastic temperature changes and moisture may warp the wood says steve stocki manager of marketing and merchandising at lumber liquidators. Although it may be tempting to deep clean your hardwood floors with a steam mop don t. Ceramic and porcelain wood floors. Though durable on the surface engineered hardwoods are bonded using adhesives and the steam cleaning can affect the quality of those adhesives.

The short answer is yes you can use steam mops on hardwood floors. If your wood flooring has a surface penetrating floor sealer use a damp cloth rather than a mop. 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. 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.

Avoid using steam mops on engineered hardwood floors. It s common for steam mop manufacturers to warn against using steam mops on unsealed floors a vague direction. However even hairline gaps between boards are not bridged by the. Some of these now look remarkably like real wood floors and just like vinyl floors it is perfectly safe to use steam mops of these types of floors.

In fact the steam mop comes into its own on these types of floors. Most hardwood flooring will come with a manufacturer s or a retailer s warranty. Steam exposes your wood floors to extreme heat and water. Most hardwood floors are finished with polyurethane a moisture resistant finish.

Alternatives to the steam mop to clean hardwood floors. Moisture can seep between the layers weakening the bond and permanently damaging the floors. This can cause damage warping bending and rot. But don t use steam mops on hardwood floors that aren t sealed.

Avoid using a steam mop on wood. Using steam can void the flooring s warranty. But ultimately it s not a good idea to use a steam mop on hardwood and you should be careful using a mop on laminate. If your floor is sealed you can clean it with steam at medium or low settings.