How To Clean Dirt in Grooves of Hardwood Floors?

Usually, hardwood floors have thin grooves and cracks that often remain dirty because while normal cleaning of floors, they remain untouched. So, how to clean dirt in grooves of hardwood floors that are hard to approach?

Let us find out the various ways and methods that you can apply to clean these hidden spaces and remove dirt from there. Furthermore, we will discuss what you should avoid for cleaning the groove of hardwood floors. 

How to clean dirt in grooves of hardwood floors?

Moving on to the methods of cleaning the dirt and debris from the groove and cracks of hardwood floors. 

Using a Wet mop for cleaning debris:

One way of cleaning the grooves of hardwood floors is mopping with a wet sponge or microfiber cloth. However, you should wet the sponge or cloth so that water starts dripping out of it. Rather use a water-drained wet cloth or sponge and scrub it firmly over the grooves. 

The wet microfibre cloth or sponge will get debris and dirt out of the grooves and provide a great cleaning surface. However, if you use moist and wet water dripping out of cloth or sponge, it will not suck the dirt out. 

How to clean hardwood floors grooves using a Vacuum cleaner?

Another effective way to clean dirt in the grooves of hardwood floors is using a vacuum cleaner. For this purpose, you need to attach a brush structure so that it loosens the dirt stuck in those grooves. So, a high-quality cleaner will suck the loose dirt, soil, and debris from the narrow grooves of the hardwood floors. But using this vacuum cleaner has some disadvantages also.

Can a vacuum cleaner clean the grooves properly?

If you are looking for a deep and complete cleansing, a vacuum cleaner might not be able to do so. Furthermore, using its ground Hard Floor cleaning mode, it might scratch the wooden surface. Its wheels may also outshine the flooring. 

Cleaning with a sharp edge plastic knife:

For an extensive cleaning of narrow and thin grooves of hardwood floors, you can use a thin plastic knife. This knife will fit inside the groove and by moving the knife inside the grooves, all the dirt and debris that is caked-up will move out. 

Now, you can collect that dirt and dispose of it. However, this process is time taking and involves a high level of concentration to work at this micro level. But it is still an effective way to pull out dirt stuck in the grooves.

Things to consider while using this Knife for cleaning:

There are a few things that you need to consider before using this method for cleaning. Do not use any metallic knife for cleaning because it will damage the wooden material on the floor. Furthermore, avoid pressing the knife with more pressure because it can lead to the breaking of the knife.

Using a Vinegar and Water solution:

Finally, cleaning while using a vinegar and water solution is another effective method if you are looking at how to clean dirt in grooves of hardwood floors. As we know, vinegar is a strong acid and it can pull out solid stains, debris, and soil from the thin crevices of hardwood floors. 

For using this method, mix a half-cup of vinegar in a gallon of hot water. Stir this solution firmly and add some detergent to this solution. Now, start pouring this solution into the narrow grooves and crevices of the floor. This strong acidic solution will remove the soil, dirt, and debris from these grooves. Now, use a microfibre cloth for a dry cleaning of the floor.

What consequences you may face while using vinegar for cleaning?

However, vinegar can corrode and decolorize the surface of wooden floors. If the solution stays for a longer period of time, it will cause the wood to swell and lose its shine. Therefore, when using this method, quickly mop the surface with a dry cloth. 

FAQs

Q. How do you clean crevices in hardwood floors?

For cleaning the crevices, you need a smaller scrubbing surface like an old toothbrush. Put some drops of cleaning material and start scrubbing the crevices of the hardwood floors. This brush will remove all the dirt and soil from the grooves and clean them. After doing so, you can further clean the floor with a wet cloth.

Q. How do you remove caked-on dirt from hardwood floors?

To clean caked-on dirt from the hardwood floor, you need to use a unique solution. Add a cup of vinegar to a gallon of hot water. Mix this solution properly and drop it in a smaller amount in the place where dirt is present. Actually, vinegar is a strong acid and when mixing it with water, it generates a strong base that helps in removing the dirt from the hardwood floors. 

Q. How do you get black gunk off hardwood floors?

Again for removing black gunk from the hardwood floor, use vinegar. Because it is acidic in nature and proves really effective for removing stains and black gunk. 

Q. Will vinegar destroy hardwood floors?

Yes, excessive use of vinegar for cleaning the crevices or just the surface of the hardwood floor will damage them. Because of its acidic nature, it will slowly decolorize the wood and its floor loses its shine. Therefore, the floor starts looking very dull. Furthermore, using water and vinegar solution for cleaning will also cause the wood to corrode and swell. 

Final Note:

Cleaning the crevices and grooves of hardwood floors is a tough task because they are not easily approachable during normal cleaning of floors. Therefore, this comprehensive guide provides you with ideas about how to clean dirt in the grooves of hardwood floors. So, we hope the processes that we discussed prove practically beneficial for you. 

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