How to Clean Strand Bamboo Floors

Keeping your strand woven bamboo flooring clean is important for the long term maintenance and protection of your investment. Regular cleaning is important and should be done on a schedule at least once a week for regular maintenance and as soon as possible for those accidents and mishaps that happen. Cleaning your floor is a fairly simple and straight forward process and is very similar to the process of maintaining hardwood floors.

Tools You Need to Clean Strand Bamboo Floors:

Dust Mop – A dust mop is the best choice for regular sweeping. It is best that the dust mop only be used indoors and on your bamboo flooring. This way you can keep as much dirt and grit away as possible as it will mar or potentially scratch the surface of bamboo floors.

Soft Bristle Broom – This is another option in place of a dust mop for regular sweeping. You will want to avoid stiff bristles as these can scratch the floor. Again make sure that the broom isn’t used outdoors and clean out the bristles regularly to keep dirt and grit away from the floor.

Soft Cloths or Mop – Bamboo floors need to be kept dry at all times or they are susceptible to warping. Keep some soft rags or a mop on hand to clean up any spills as soon as possible. Don’t let any type of liquid, even floor cleaners, lie on the floor for any length of time. Doing so will cause all kinds of problems including staining, and possibly swelling or warping of the bamboo. This can lead to costly repairs.

Vacuum with Soft Brush Attachment – Only use a soft brush attachment when vacuuming bamboo floors. Vacuums are not the best cleaning method, but they can be a necessity in today’s busy family life. If you must go electric, use the soft attachment. Using the vacuum by itself can lead to scratches in the floor through dragging around grit or from the beater bars on the vacuum cleaner itself.

Wet Mopping and Bamboo Floor Cleaner – When it’s time to give your strand bamboo a more thorough cleaning, a microfiber wet mop is the best choice. Whatever type of mop that you choose, insure it doesn’t have any abrasive surfaces – like those dual sponge mops that have a green “scrubby” side. Whenever possible choose a floor cleaner that is specifically formulated for bamboo floors. If none are available, use a water-soluble Hardwood Floor Cleaner like this one available at Amazon. Don’t use ammonia based products or strong chemicals on bamboo floors as this can damage the surface and potentially discolor the floor. When you mop, only wet a small area of the floor and do not just dump large amounts of water or cleaner onto the floor like folks do with linoleum. You want to avoid large amounts of water on the floor if at all possible as this will warp the flooring.

Things to Avoid When Cleaning Strand Bamboo Floors

Avoid Wax and Abrasive Cleaners – Wax will build up over time and has a tendency to trap sharp particles. Waxed wood floors are also extremely slippery and can be a hazard for children, the elderly, and those of us who like to go around in socks. Abrasive cleaners will destroy the surface of your floor and scratch up the bamboo. Use of abrasive cleaners will also potentially void any manufacturer’s warranty you may have on the floor.

Avoid Stiff Bristles and Brooms or Mops Used Outdoors or in the Garage – Stiff bristle brooms have a much higher likelihood of scratching the surface of the bamboo floor. Tools that you use in other areas such as garages, entry ways, or outdoors will pick up grit, sand, and dirt which will scratch the surface of your floors as well.

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