skip to main content

Steam mops ion hardwoods?

11 years ago

I am wondering if you have used steam mops on hardwood floors..are they safe for them and do they work as great as the ads say they do?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

autumn.4
11 years ago
Hi phoggie.

I think that may depend on if they are site-finished or pre-finished and even then I'd be leary. If they are pre-finished I would absolutely NOT use it for sure. The steam will get between the boards. If they are site-finished then I *think* the wood would be better protected and could handle very occasional use of it as there are no seams for the steam to penetrate but I'm not an expert.

I have a steam mop and use it on my tile only. Our wood floors are oil rubbed finish so no poly at all and there is no way I'd use it on there.

Just my 2 cents.
debrak_2008
11 years ago
I think you will get different opinions on this for sure. I have used my steam mop a few times on my old and new hardwood. I actually don't think it cleans my hw that well. I'm going to get Bruce hardwood floor cleaner to use.

I have a friend who has beautiful pre-finished hw floors and uses a steam mop regularly for many years with no ill effects. I also think it can cause damage.

Proceed with caution.
Related Discussions
Shark Steam mop~ How to deal with streaks/smears
Q
Comments (8)
Take it back (or put it on Craig's List) and get a Hoover Floormate like I did! I don't know if your wood is sealed or not... my experience with the Shark steam mop is limited to the Shark Pocket steam mop, not the original. I have tile in my apartment, and wanted an easier way to clean it.... Someone told me they love their Shark steam mop, so I bought one, even though I despise Euro Pro products for their inferior quality... I was open minded enough to give the steam mop a chance. It left streaks all over, it took a long time to heat up, I couldn't control the steam, it hissed.... just to make sure it wasn't just my floor, I brought the sucker into work and tried to do our office. Streaks all over the tile, I even tried adding vinegar to the water... it no only didn't get the dirt, but ADDED streaks to the floor, leaving me worse off than I was to begin with. The people at "Shark" forgot to include that little detail in their infomercial! I thought it was because the pads were new, so I washed them per the instructions, and still, they left streaks. I took that sucker back after a week and got a refund. I got a Hoover Floormate a few days ago, and it's been bliss ever since. It's a little more work to set up and break down, but I'm just using plain water and it's working great. I brought in into work last night after I got off and spent two hours doing our whole office! Wow, what a difference... dirt gone, and only shine left behind, no streaks!
...See More
Hardwood Floors and Steam Mops
Q
Comments (21)
I used the Bona spray bottle with microfiber cloth stuck to the bottom of the stick thing that comes with it for a couple of years and thought it was doing a somewhat decent job and would also every once in awhile clean it on my hands and knees with a damp cloth yet I always wondered why the heck it felt somewhat sticky and also if you walked on it barefoot and your feet had any condensation on them whatsoever it would leave trails everywhere in the house you walked. After having a child it made me think twice about spraying a chemical down on the floor they were crawling on and then them putting their hands in their mouth and whatnot, which led me to try the shark steam mop which I saw on a late night infomercial and while it did work somewhat it took forever and you had to constantly pump it to get steam and therefore it was easy to use excessive steam when it finally started coming out and then leaving drips everywhere and puddles even. After a few months ths flimsy shark broke from me trying to push down on it hard to get out a spot of something on the floor basically because it doesn't heat up hot enough to even clean that up. Finally I dug around on Amazon and stumbled onto the Eureka Steam Mop, this thing is awesome. It feels like I am cheating when I am cleaning it takes so little time, it heats up much hotter than the shark so therefore it sterilizes the floor and easily cleans of any mess with no effort and from time to time I have to check that it is actually working because the water evaporates so quick you can't even see it ever sitting on the wood except for a few seconds. This Eureka steam mop is very hard to get ahold of usually because it is out of stock quite a bit and the only downside I have seen is that the replacement pads are hard to find and get ahold of. I ordered some direct off of the companies website and they didn't ship forever so I called them up and they said they cannot keep them in stock ever because everytime they are in stock they all get bought up in no time and she said everything related to this Eureka steam mop does because it is a huge seller for them. I totally understand why...haha My cleaning lady was shocked how good this unit was and has actually had all of her clients buy them now too and they have all had the same exact results I did. So I guess if your happy working your butt off keeping your floor clean the old school way and spaying chemicals and breathing those in then keep doing it, yet if you want actual clean floors not getting build up on them and to clean your floors in a quarter of the time with this unit and some distilled water then go for that as well. Just search on Amazon for Eureka 313A if you would like to check it out and see the 640 reviews on it from actual customers yourself or click the link I attached, free shipping and no tax. Spoken like a true Amazon junky....lol Michael Here is a link that might be useful: Linky ==> Best Floor Cleaner I Have...
...See More
steam mop hardwood?
Q
Comments (3)
It is not recommended by most hardwood manufacturers to use steam. You are asking for trouble! If you need some bulletins sited, email me!
...See More
Those Shark Steam Mops
Q
Comments (23)
Thanks, chi, Bona is the name I forgot. Wood definitely has grain patterns but i don't think the physical undulations shown in the photo are normal. The second row from the top has quite a dip where the two boards abut, there's even a shadow from the light. If you don't like your color, consider calling in a wood floor re-finisher to see if the material you have can be sanded down and refinished using a lighter color. Some can, some can't, it depends on what the material is. The guy who put in our wood floor a dozen years ago (it's solid wood, not a laminate or manufactured wood product) said that nothing wetter than "slightly damp" should ever be applied. He said for cleaning products, the dust mop should be sprayed, not the floor. We do that rarely, but vacuum often. I'm not sure what purpose a steam cleaner performs. If you do have a tile or other floor that can take so much wetness, it can be well cleaned with vinegar or a product containing bleach. No floor truly needs to be "sanitized". Simple Green is also very good for water safe floors and doesn't attack grout sealers as some cleaners do.
...See More
Lake_Girl
11 years ago
The guy who did our HW, said not to use them.
User
11 years ago
NO! No steam on wood of any kind.
User
11 years ago
NO! No steam on wood of any kind.
2LittleFishies
11 years ago
I do it occasionally and never had a problem. The floor feels great afterwards. The Haan I have said safe for hw floors. Ours our oak that were finished on site.
laughablemoments
11 years ago
My dear dad brought his over to try on our wood floors floors. It ruined the finish. : ( What an awful, sinking feeling for us both. We didn't realize it until almost the whole kitchen was done. We spent days doing an oil poly about 2 years before. It no longer gleams, it just looks icky.

He's used the steam mop on his wood stairs that he polyed with no problems, so he never dreamed that it would damage our floors. He thought he'd bring it out and try it here, thinking a steam mop would be a real blessing to our household, and wanted to give me a chance to test drive one before buying.

I'm not buying one.
lindabiddle
11 years ago
What about travertine floors? Has anyone used a steam cleaner on those or is it a big no-no? If you do use one on stone floors, what brand do you use?

TIA Linda
rhome410
11 years ago
Our flooring store guys had heart attacks, but we use our steamer weekly on our aluminum oxide prefinished floors and they look great after. After their response and the comments here, I will rethink, but so far, 5 yrs without problem.
drewem
11 years ago
I use my stem mop on the hardwood. After the wood is dry, I use the hw floor cleaner/polisher. Spray it on, and wipe with paper towel. I don't think it has affected the floor. I don't do it very often though.
angela12345
11 years ago
We use our steam mop on the low setting and always keep it moving quickly. Never stop to scrub long in one spot or keep it in one spot very long. The steam dries literally in seconds. We have 5/16" Brazilian Timborana pre-finished engineered hardwood floors by Indusparquet (formerly branded as BR-111) with a urethane & aluminum oxide finish. The floors look fantastic and it is SO much easier to clean with the steam mop.

That being said, most mfgs do not recommend using a steam mop on hardwoods. They have to account for all usages, including people who may let the steam mop sit in one spot and just steam away. See the below recommendations that I found online ...

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.atyourdooronline.com/Steam%20and%20Swiffer%20Cleaners.pdf

Related Stories

HOUSEKEEPING Easy Green: Steam Cleaners for a Chemical-Free Sparkle

By Laura Gaskill

Deep clean and sanitize by harnessing high-temperature water for floors, curtains and clothes as immaculate as they are healthy

HOUSEKEEPING How to Clean Hardwood Floors

By Bonnie McCarthy

Gleaming wood floors are a thing of beauty. Find out how to keep them that way

MATERIALS What to Ask Before Choosing a Hardwood Floor

By Mitchell Parker

We give you the details on cost, installation, wood varieties and more to help you pick the right hardwood flooring

CLOSETS Get Your Broom Closet Just Right

By Laura Gaskill

The Hardworking Home: Make cleanup easier with storage space that neatly organizes your equipment and supplies

KITCHEN DESIGN 16 Practical Ideas to Borrow From Professional Kitchens

Restaurant kitchens are designed to function efficiently and safely. Why not adopt some of their tricks in your own home?

DECORATING GUIDES How to Bring the Beauty of Reclaimed Wood to the Bath

By Becky Harris

Beautiful salvaged wood adds warmth and texture to a bathroom. Here's how to get the look right

TILE Top Tile Trends From the Coverings 2013 Show — the Wood Look

By Becky Harris

Get the beauty of wood while waving off potential splinters, rotting and long searches, thanks to eye-fooling ceramic and porcelain tiles

ENTRYWAYS Get a Mudroom Floor That’s Strong and Beautiful Too

By Lisa Higgins

Learn the flooring materials that can handle splashes and splatters with ease and still keep their good looks

REMODELING GUIDES 11 Reasons to Love Wall-to-Wall Carpeting Again

By Judith Taylor Designs

Is it time to kick the hard stuff? Your feet, wallet and downstairs neighbors may be nodding

HEALTHY HOME What You Need to Know About Dust and How to Fight It

By Mitchell Parker

Breathe easier with these 10 tips for busting mites, dander and other microscopic undesirables

Sponsored

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

233 Reviews

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

More Discussions

Kitchen remodel in my future

9

I am working on the kitchen of an investment house we are refurbishing

1

Kitchen Undermount Sink

6

What are these above my cabinets?

4

Is my sink too big?

2