Old hardwood floors - is steam vac really ok?

Momtobug31 · November 2011

Hi ladies! We have hardwood floors throughout our house. They're original, from the 1920's. Is a steam vac really ok? I've heard conflicting points of view. I need something other than the lame Swiffer. It leaves streaks and doesn't really get the floors clean. I'm tired of vacuuming then mopping. I need one device that cleans up the dust/dirt as well as the stuck-on-gunk on the floors (we have a toddler).

I'm looking into the Eureka Euro Steam but worried about the hardwood. Thoughts???! Sorry as I know this is a topic that has been discussed before....

srs5624 · November 2011

If it's sealed, you're good. If it's not, you'll ruin your floors.

Personally, I haven't had any luck with a steam mop on sealed wood floors. I'm always left with a streaky mess. Old fashioned mopping is the winner for me.

Flirt01 · November 2011

I purchased a Shark Lift Away Professional at WalMart 2 weeks ago and it has a "duster" attachment that works on my old hardwood floors.

I love it!

Mrs.Reem · December 2011

I wouldn't. Chances are that even it if is sealed and not waxed, the sealant has begun to fail and you'll get steam into the wood. Once in a while might be fine but not every day or even every week.

fisheries+chick · December 2011

Over Thanksgiving week hubby and I visited a small town vacuum store, and asked her about steamers. She said that they're ok to use on floors that are sealed, like someone else said. But if there are ANY cracks in the floors then it could do damage. She said water damage though, which you'd think would be same problem as mopping, or maybe she just mean the steam could warp the floor boards? I'm not exactly sure, but she was against it for an old wood floor like that. We have floors like that too--our house is 80 years old and they're in absolute terrible shape so I've been wary of even mopping them. Luckily they're only in the back of the house so nobody really sees them....

carrieve · December 2011

I use the shark steam cleaner on my floors with Murphys soap with no issues. Its steam and not acually water and dries quickly so no damage

Kingston54 · December 2011

As long as they are sealed, you will be fine!

BunnyMendelbaum · December 2011

I have hardwoods from the 20's too.

I do not recommend using steam on them. Even if they are sealed, they are 90 years old and there are bound to be cracks and gaps.

I have a toddler and watch another in the mornings, so I wanted one for the same reason. I actually called a local hardwood flooring installer who I know and trust and he said that the NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association) recently released their findings on this issue and the NWFA DOES NOT recommend the use of a steam mop on wood floors.

I did a blog post on it.

http://www.86nit.com/2011/09/from-experts-no-steam-mop-on-hardwoods.html

I'm getting a new dyson vacuum for Christmas. I hope it does the trick.

Old hardwood floors - is steam vac really ok?

Re: Old hardwood floors - is steam vac really ok?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards