How to Clean Maple Hardwood Floors

Sweep your maple floors daily to remove dirt and debris. These materials are tracked inside due to foot traffic, and can grind down the surface of your floor. Use entrance mats to keep these materials off your floors, and sweep away dirt regularly.

Mop your floors weekly or as needed using a damp mop. Add a bit of hardwood flooring cleaner if your floors are particularly dirty or grimy. Make sure to thoroughly ring the mop out before applying it to the wood, as very wet mops will cause water stains and damage.

Remove gum, tar, and other sticky substances by freezing them with ice. Close contact with a bag of ice will make these materials hard and brittle, which will allow you to easily scrape them away using a floor scraper.

Use a solution of bleach and water to clean pet stains. Add one part bleach to ten parts water. Dip a cloth in this solution and wring it out until it is damp, but not sopping wet. Rub the stain with your wet cloth, then use a new cloth to dry the floor once the stain is gone.

Treat dark stains with mineral spirits. Apply a few drops of this substance to the stain and allow it to soak in for several minutes. Use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe the mineral spirits away along with the stain.

Rub a piece of very fine steel wool over very tough or hardened stains. The steel wool should be damp, and a mild detergent can be used if necessary. The detergent should be applied to the steel wool, not directly to the floor.