Can you wet mop an engineered wood floor?

Introduction

If you have an engineered wood floor, you may have been asked whether it's safe to clean it with water or wet mop. The answer is not a simple yes or no, because not all engineered wood floors are created equal, so do your homework first and follow our tips for success.

Wet mopping an engineered wood floor

You can use a damp microfiber cloth on an engineered wood floor. But it must be well wrung so that it is just damp. There should not be much water touching the floor at all. Using too much water will damage your wood flooring and thus lower the value of your home. Never allow puddles to form on the wood because it could lead to permanent staining issues that require costly repairs or replacement of your flooring. Never use steam cleaners on engineered hardwood floors as they can cause severe damage and void warranties on these products while also making them slippery when wet (which is certainly not good for any surface).

If you use water on an engineered wood flooring installation, then there's a chance that it could warp the wood under the veneer and cause mold and mildew growth.

Maintaining an engineered wood floor

As with all flooring, proper care and maintenance will prolong the life of your floor. In fact, with engineered wood floors, proper care may be even more important because they are made up of several layers that can last anywhere from 20 years to a lifetime depending on how well they were installed.

The top layer is typically hardwood veneer—stained or finished— and is usually oak or another hardwood. Underneath this top layer there are several other layers laminated together under heat and pressure.

Typical maintenance involves a regular sweeping routine with a soft bristled brush, usually every few days, with a deeper clean every week or month, which could include cleaning with a damp microfiber cloth as mentioned above. 

Other measures on wood flooring maintenance can be found in our other blog post here.

If your floor has a polyurethane or polyurea coating, you can use a water-based cleaning solution (like Murphy Oil Soap) and either a mop or sponge. The key here is to not allow puddles of water to form on your engineered wood floors; this can warp the boards and make them swell, which will in turn cause them to separate from one another.

In terms of safety: if you have pets or children who might accidentally knock over containers of liquid, we recommend keeping all cleaning materials well out of reach during cleanup!

Conclusion

In summary, you can safely use a damp microfiber cloth on an engineered wood floor. Just make sure you don't use too much water or allow puddles to form on the floor. Using throw rugs at high traffic areas will help protect against moisture damage and warping. If you have any doubts about whether your flooring is suitable for wet mopping, consult an expert before proceeding with cleaning instructions found elsewhere on this website!