How to Care for a Bamboo Floor
Bamboo flooring has strength and durability along with the aesthetics many people are looking for when choosing flooring for their homes or businesses. After the installation process, it is important to take proper care of the bamboo flooring to ensure it lasts a long time and maintains its beauty with age. Understanding proper cleaning, care, and maintenance of a bamboo floor before installing it is one way to make sure this happens.
Keeping Bamboo Floors Clean
Keeping bamboo floors clean is not too different from cleaning other types of flooring, but there are some differences to be noted.
Shoes and Mats
To avoid issues with dirt, dust, and other potentially harmful items on the floor, do not allow shoes to be worn in the home. Use mats at doorways to help people remember to wipe their feet or take their shoes off before stepping onto the floor surface. Wear slippers in the home to protect feet from other dangers. Clean shoes and mats regularly to prevent the transfer of dust, dirt, pebbles, and other debris.
Protection in High Traffic Areas
Though bamboo flooring is highly durable and well suited for high traffic areas of a home or business, to prevent early signs of wear and tear, it is a good idea to use rugs in high traffic areas to protect the surface of the floor. Just as with mats and shoes, these rugs should be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent the transfer of debris onto the floor.
Selkirk ENGINEERED Collection Engineered Strandwoven Distressed Finish / SKU: 15230513
Bamboo Floor Care
Taking care of a bamboo floor sounds more painful than it really is. With a few simple adjustments to the daily routine, it will become second nature in no time.
Keeping the Floor Dust and Moisture Free
Dust and dirt can scratch the surface of bamboo flooring over time, so it is important to sweep frequently. It is necessary to use a soft cloth or pad to ensure that dust and dirt are removed from the floor rather than pushed around it.
Using a damp mop from time to time is a completely acceptable method of cleaning and caring for a bamboo floor. Because bamboo floors cannot handle large amounts of moisture, it is important to be sure the mop is not too wet.
Cleaning Spills
Clean spills as soon as they happen to prevent moisture from seeping into the flooring. Do not use any abrasive materials, such as pot scrubbers or steel wool, to clean the spill because these fibers can scratch the surface of the flooring. If there is an oily spill, it will need immediate attention, as this could potentially cause a stain on the flooring. Dry the floor immediately after the spill has been cleaned.
Cleaning Products for Bamboo Floors
Do not use any commercial cleaning products or harsh chemicals on a bamboo floor. They can cause to damage to the floor.
Tips for Cleaning Bamboo Floors
To maximize time spent cleaning the floors and prevent damage, here are a few tips to help with cleaning the floors.
Clean Bamboo Floors Every Week
The easiest way to ensure proper care of the flooring is to clean it once a week. While there should be maintenance done at some point every day, giving all flooring surfaces a thorough cleaning each week keeps the floors in optimal condition.
Along with sweeping, which is generally the most effective way to clean this type of flooring, light mopping can be done. Using a small amount of water (only ever use a slightly damp mop), bamboo flooring can usually be cleaned with quality hardwood floor cleaning solutions. Stay away from non-alkaline cleaners and wax as they may effect the finish. When using water or other cleaning solutions, be sure to thoroughly wring out the mop before using it on the floor. If moisture is allowed to seep into the seams between the planks, your floors could become damaged.
Cleaning Stubborn Spills
For spills that are gooey or sticky, remove as much as possible with a dry cloth or towel. Wipe any remaining spill with a damp cloth, making sure not to scrub because this will push the material down into the flooring surface. Blot the sticky or gooey spot several times until the spill is gone and dry immediately with a soft cloth to prevent further damage. The sooner a spill is attended to, the less likely it is to stain or cause damage to the surface.
Maintenance of Bamboo Floors
Ongoing maintenance is the best way to care for the bamboo floors in a home or business. Cleaning the floor surfaces regularly and taking precautionary measures with shoes, rugs, and mats will prevent damage and preserve the beauty and condition of the floor.
Daily Maintenance
Be sure to sweep the floor with a soft cloth broom at least once a day. If possible, once in the morning and once in the evening, or after periods of high traffic is even better. If something is spilled on the floor, take care of it immediately. Dust and dirt left on the floor for long periods of time will get pushed around as people walk through the room, causing it to create minute scratches in the finish. Over time, these scratches will diminish the appearance of the floor, causing it to show its age.
Avoid Stiletto Heels or Athletic Spiked Shoes
While bamboo flooring is resistant to dents and scratches, it doesn’t mean it is impervious. Wearing stiletto heels or cleats in the home or business will wear the floor down much quicker, and leave it more susceptible to dents. The more frequently shoes such as those are worn, the more likely they will cause damage to the surface.
What steps do you follow for bamboo floor care?
Lori
Can I use Pledge cleaner floor care on my real dark bamboo flooring?
irene d
Hi – I just had a bamboo floor installed. The installer used glue instead of nails to install the floor. I saw the installer use pain thinner and goof-off to remove spots of glue on the floor. Will this ruin the finish of the floor?
Mony
I just installed a very dark engineering bamboo floors but I have 2 issues with it. 1. I have a dog and she had an accident like a couple of times in the same spot and now she can smell her pee in that spot so what can I do to get out the smell?
2. The floors always looks dull, what can I do to make it looks more shiny and get out this dull look?
Thank you
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Mony,
It sounds like your dogs urine has seeped into the seams of the floor. Unfortunately the only way to fix this is to change the planks in the areas that smell.
If the surface of the floor was shiny when you installed you may be able to clean it with a water and vinegar solution to break up anything that is sitting on the surface causing dullness. If the floor originally had a matte finish then there is nothing you can add on top to make the floor more shiny. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Kellye
I recently purchased a total gutted remodeled him that has very dark bamboo flooring. I began light warm water on a regular mop then put down Bruce floor cleaner and User a microfiber to re-mop to get it to dry quicker. The floors just weren’t shined like it was before we moved in. I bought Holloway House brand and sprayed directly onto my microfiber mop and started doing sections of the floor until completed. The floors looked perfect the first time, now doing it a second time the floors are very shiney but have build up in certain areas that I can’t seem to pull up, any suggestions?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Kellye,
You may need to use a solution of one part vinegar to ten parts water lightly spritzed on a microfiber cloth to break down the build up. I would highly suggest decreasing the amount of moisture you use on the floor, do not wet mop it. You will most likely get water damage if you continue. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Christine Alcorta
Help! I came home today to find my husband’s salt water fish tank leaking all over our bamboo floor. I’m trying to mop up the water as best I can. Is our floor ruined?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Christine,
Sorry to hear about your floor! It depends how long the water has been sitting on the floor. If it has been a long time then the water could have seeped into the seams. You will have to see if there is any warping or cupping in the next while. Clean up the water as soon as possible and hopefully it should be okay!
CINDY ALEXANDER
Brand new Bamboo Floor would love to know what would be a safe vacuum for the floor.
Currently cleaning with bona. Duster then damp mop once a week. For the days that meetings take place in my home I’d like to spruce up right before with a vacuum.
Any suggestions?
Thanks Cindy
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Cindy,
Bamboo is a very hard and dense material so any vacuum will work fine as long as there are no sharp pieces dragging along the floor. I highly suggest to stop mopping the floor. Bamboo is a natural product so too much moisture will cause water damage. For regular cleaning you can use a vacuum or a broom with a microfiber cloth like a Swiffer. If you would like to do a more thorough clean I would use a solution of one part vinegar to ten parts water very lightly spritzed on a microfiber cloth. You can use this to wipe down the floor and it will clean up any dirt and dust and break through any oils from footprints. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Brandi
Hello,
I have engineered bamboo flooring and have used Bona for cleaning; however, similar to others the floors have a dull look. Would your suggestion of one part vinegar to ten parts water work on engineered flooring as well? If so, should the water be cold, warm, luke-warm or does it matter? Thank you very much.
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Brandi,
I would suggest using the water and vinegar solution to clean the bamboo floors. Bona is known to leave a type of haze on the surface of some floors so it would be best to avoid using it. You can use any temperature of water but luke-warm might be best to help dissolve any oils on the floor. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Cathy Cook
Can you use pure water and mineral salts to clean bamboo flooring. Just bought product from ekoworks and wanted to know if any good?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Cathy,
Thank you for your inquiry! I would not suggest using water and mineral salts for your bamboo floor. For regular cleaning you can use a vacuum or a broom with a microfiber cloth like a Swiffer. If you would like to do a more thorough clean I would use a solution of one part vinegar to ten parts water very lightly spritzed on a microfiber cloth. You can use this to wipe down the floor and it will clean up any dirt and dust and break through any oils from footprints. Just be sure not to use too much moisture because you can get water damage if the floor gets too wet. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Astrid
I just finish with our remodeling of our floor.Bamboo is very beautiful but I want to make sure I keep them well maintained what is your suggestions? I want to clean them properly so I can keep them looking good and healthy?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Astrid, thanks for reaching out to us! Here is a link that provide information on daily maintenance, cleaning tips, protection tips and more: https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/flooring/bamboo-floor-care/comment-page-3/#comment-246051 – please take a read through and let us know if you have any specific questions :). Thanks!
Sarah
My bamboo floor lookS dull. What can I use to shine it up
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for getting in touch! I don’t usually recommend putting anything on top of the pre-finished bamboo floor because you can never be sure if it will just sit on top and collect dirt and dust. You can try an aluminum oxide water based urethane finish but I would highly recommend testing it out on a small area first to ensure it doesn’t wreck the floor. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help out with!
Kathy
Hi, can you please help me. I had bamboo floors installed a week ago.we’ve used everything ( citra solve, wd40 mr clean sponges, and I think they used paint thinner)to get the residual glue marks up and and I’ve mopped with bona and murphys and the glue smears are still there and it’s now shows all our feet and shoe marks. I’m going crazy trying to figure out how to make this floor look good! Thank you for your time and knowledge. Sincerely Kathy
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Kathy,
Thank you for getting in touch! You will need to clean the floor with a one part vinegar to ten parts water solution that has been very lightly spritzed on a micro fiber cloth. Use this to wipe down the floors and it should cut through the residue that has been left from the other cleaners you’ve tried. You can do this once every few weeks to keep the floor clean, just be sure not to use too much moisture because that will damage the floor. To remove the glue you can try using mineral spirits. Be sure to test this out on a very small, inconspicuous area first to check whether the wear layer can handle it. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Kirsten
Help!! We just moved into a beautiful home. My dad was trying to help my cleaning up. When I got home he wa using a stiffer wet pads on our shiny bamboo floor! Now there is a film on the surface. Should I do th 10 parts water to one part vinegar solution??
Also can I use one of the microfiber mops that spray out the solution?
Thank you
Kirsten
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Kirsten,
Thank you for getting in touch! I definitely suggest using the vinegar and water solution. That should cut through the residue. Do not use the microfiber mop that sprays the solution onto the actual floor. That will make the floor too wet and over time you will get moisture damage. The cloth should only be a little bit damp so moisture does not sit on top or seep through the seams of the floor. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Jay Brissie
Can I use iRobot Scooba on bamboo floor?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Jay,
Thank you for getting in touch! I am not familiar with the iRobot Scooba but you should be able to use it on the bamboo floor as long as there is no moisture. We also can’t 100% guarantee it won’t scratch. If you can, I would suggest trying it out on a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn’t wreck the floor. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Glenda Massee
My installers used mineral spirits to remove and glue that got on my stranded bamboo I have some they missed and it will not come up with water or vinegar and water, is it OK to use mineral spirits?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Glenda,
Thank you for your inquiry! Mineral spirits should be fine to remove the glue. I would test a small amount on an area first just to make sure there are no reactions with the floor. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help out with!
catherine
hi
we installed strand bamboo floors [a very dark espresso colora month ago and used Bona cleaner on them and it left a cloudy film on them and the floors now look horrible
what do you suggest to get the cloudy film off the floors? i have only hd the floor a month and already want to ripe them out.
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Catherine,
Thank you for getting in touch! I would suggest cleaning the floor with a solution of ten parts water to one part vinegar. Very lightly spritz this solution on a microfiber cloth and wipe down the floor. The cloth should only be a little bit damp, you cannot have too much moisture on a bamboo floor. This should bring up any residue sitting on the floor from the buildup of cleaning products. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Dee713
Hello,
I have bamboo floors and have a few stained spots from my dog. Sometimes my dog has accident and pees (usually in the same 2 spots) we wipe it up with windex or a liquid cleaner and water. Is there anything we can do to lighten the darker stains? (our floor is the lighter tan color)
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Dee713,
Thank you for getting in touch! Unfortunately you won’t be able to lighten the stains, the moisture has most likely absorbed in those areas. The only solution would be to try to replace those planks. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help out with!
Carol Ford
Well I have really screwed up. We’ve had bamboo for about 6 years. Last year I was given a steam mop because it “was the BEST” Scratched have started to appear and my sister insisted I use a product called Rejuvinate. Oh no. Lots of scratches and smeary looking floor. I can’t figure out how to get the floors looking good again.
Any ideas?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Carol,
Sorry to hear about your floors! First, I would suggest cleaning the floor with a solution of ten parts water to one part vinegar. Very lightly spritz this solution on a microfiber cloth and wipe down the floor. The cloth should only be a little bit damp, you cannot have too much moisture on a bamboo floor. This should bring up any residue sitting on the floor from the buildup of cleaning products. You also need to stop using the steam mop because that will cause your floor to get moisture damage. After you have cleaned the floor, if you still have scratches you can look for a color matched floor putty or wood filler to try to fill in or cover the scratches. Good luck! Please let us know if you need anything else!
Lisa Bock
I have bamboo floors that have been well maintained for 10 years. However there is some sun-fading by a sliding glass door, and a certain area in the middle of a room where the stain has rubbed off after cleaning up pet stains. I do not want to have them sanded or refinished, but I do want to rub in a stain or wood finish to try to match the carmel color of the boards. Is there a stain or wood finish made specifically for bamboo floors?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for getting in touch! Unfortunately we wouldn’t recommend using any type of stain on the bamboo. Most of the time wood stains will react with the finish and glue in the bamboo and you will get warping and damage. You can try a wood fill putty type of product and see if that would work, just test it in a small, inconspicuous area. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
serena
I just installed bamboo flooring yesterday they completed now how to I clean all dust off safely without scratching. Can I use Bona system?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Serena,
Thank you for getting in touch! You can use a Swiffer to sweep up the dust or a solution of one part vinegar to ten parts water lightly spritzed on a microfiber cloth to wipe down the floor. I don’t usually suggest chemical cleaners like Bona because you never know how it will react with the finish. I would highly suggest trying it out on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn’t ruin the floor. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Veronika Westerson
Hi there,
I am very happy with my bamboo floor.
I have been very careful with my floor. No shoes in the house, mop them with special mop every week and dust them regularly but,,unfortunately, my husband has left some marks on the floor a few weeks ago from our lazy chair.
We just bought a new couch that come with a rubber stand and each time my husband sit on the chair he had moved the chair and left scratches.
How can I remove these scratches?
Many thanks
Ronnie
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Ronnie. Thanks so much for reaching out to us and I’m happy to hear that you are happy with your purchase! If it’s a scratch on the finish of the product, then there’s very little corrective action that can be taken. If it’s a deeper scratch, then you could possibly use a putty-filler type product. We would recommend heading down to Home Depot or Lowes and seeing if they have any corrective products available for this type of issue. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Lucinda
What are the best rugs to use at the sink and door ways on bamboo floors? Can I use non slip rugs will they discolor/stain the floor?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Lucinda. Thanks so much for contacting us! There isn’t a particular rug that is better than the other for using on bamboo floors, so any rug should be fine! As far as we know, there shouldn’t be issues with non-slip rugs, but we would recommend confirming with the rug manufacturer. If you do end up using a non-slip rug, just keep an eye on it and check every week or so for the first little while, to make sure there are no stains or discoloring. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
francine
Hi
Just wondering what I can use to disinfect the flooring other than just cleaning stains. I use Bona to clean the floor but recently had a handyman come in and I’d like to really clean and disenfect. Any suggestions for how and what to use. Thank you
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Francine,
I usually suggest using a solution of one part vinegar to ten parts water very lightly spritzed on a microfiber cloth. Then you can wipe the floor down. I don’t usually suggest using harsh cleaners because it may react with the finish on the floor. If you do want to use a disinfectant floor cleaner I suggest trying it out on a small area just in case. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help out with!
Becky
Can Murphy’s Oil be used on a bamboo floor?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Becky,
Thank you for your inquiry! I wouldn’t suggest using any liquid or oil cleaners on bamboo flooring because it could react with the finish and ruin the floor and cause moisture damage. You can use a solution of one part vinegar to ten parts water VERY lightly spritzed on a microfiber cloth and wipe the floor down. The cloth should only be lightly damp. If you do want to try the cleaner you should test it on a small area in an inconspicuous area just to make sure there are no issues. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help out with!
Simona paul
Can I use a steam mop or vinegar and
water ??
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Simona,
Thank you for getting in touch! Do not use a steam mop on bamboo floors. It will cause extreme water damage. You can use a solution of one part vinegar to ten parts water VERY lightly spritzed on a microfiber cloth and wipe the floor down. The cloth should only be lightly damp. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Henry Lazar
What is the best way to remove parafin wax drops from engineered bamboo floors?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Henry,
Thank you for your inquiry! The best option to remove the wax would be to lightly dampen a cloth with hot water and hold the cloth over the drop to try to soften it up. Make sure the cloth is not too wet or you will get water damage on the floor. Once it has softened a bit you can gently try to scrape the wax off. Please be extremely careful but too much moisture or scratching that is too rough can damage the bamboo floor. Please let us know if you have any other questions!