Bamboo Flooring Care
Bamboo is an excellent natural floor covering material that’s suitable in both homes and commercial spaces. It’s eco-friendly and more affordable than prefinished and unfinished hardwood. With proper care and maintenance, bamboo floors can last for up to 25 years. So, how do you clean bamboo flooring and make it last as long as possible? Get general upkeep information and cleaning tips here.
Maintaining Bamboo Floors
Dirt, debris, dust, sand, and other small abrasive particles can cause scratches and damage bamboo. To prevent scratching, you can place doormats inside and outside of each entrance. Area rugs can help prevent wear-and-tear –– just be sure to shake them out and clean them regularly. To avoid denting this semi-soft flooring material, we also recommend getting felt pads for the legs of your furniture and advise against dragging heavy items across the floor when you rearrange a room.
Both exceptionally humid and dry climates can cause damage to bamboo floors. In high humidity, the material is prone to expanding, and in arid environments, it may shrink. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers can help prevent this type of damage. Excessive sunlight can also discolor bamboo over time, but you can limit how much the color fades with the right window treatments. If you have pets, it’s a good idea to keep their nails trimmed short, bathe them often, and dry them off or wipe their feet when they come inside. High-heeled shoes can dent bamboo, and dark-soled footwear can create scuff marks. In general, shoes will track dirt, rainwater, and mud into your space. Some homeowners request that their family and guests remove their shoes when they enter.
How to Clean Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring should be swept, vacuumed, or dust-mopped often. This will prevent the accumulation of dirt and debris, which can lead to scratching. The floor covering material is porous, which makes it susceptible to deep liquid stains, so spills should be blotted up immediately with a clean cloth. While bamboo is more resistant to moisture than hardwood, water should never be used for cleaning because it may cause the material to warp or expand. You can use a slightly damp mop to remove surface stains and dirt, but make sure the floors are completely dry within a few minutes.
The Best Bamboo Flooring Cleaning Products
It’s crucial you use a cleaning product intended for the specific flooring material you have. Most hardwood floor cleaners work for bamboo as long as they are wax-free and non-alkaline –– but when in doubt, go with what the manufacturer recommends. Some great non-wax solutions for polishing your floors include Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner and Bona Free & Simple Hardwood Floor Cleaner. For best results, don’t spray the product directly onto the bamboo. Instead, spray it onto a mop head and gently polish your floors in a circular motion. With all floor cleaners, it’s best to follow the directions on the bottle, especially with products that call for mixing the solution with water. Visit the Floor Factors showroom in Portland to get expert recommendations on cleaning products and supplies.
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