If you have some nice new floors put in the last thing you want to do is ruin them. Certainly at some point they're going to get a scratch or two (which will be a difficult thing to handle and often we feel like we're just waiting for that first blow) but the last thing you want to do is ruin their shiny surfaces by trying to clean them! How to clean a hardwood floor properly really isn't all that hard, and can be a quick painless experience with the right tools.

The tool that is fastest, most effective, and gentlest on your nice surfaces is a steam mop. These are hard surface steam cleaners that don't use any chemicals while still thoroughly clean your floor.

They are just like a normal mop, typically with a microfiber pad on bottom, that you push around your house. You fill the machine up with a bit of water, wait for it to heat up, and then the steam mop gets your house nice and clean. The microfiber pads are reusable and can be thrown in the washer when you're done using them. For convenience sake, the mops that come with at least two microfiber pads are a much nicer deal. That way while one is in the washer, you can use the other in case of a spill or anything else that may come up. If your steam mop only comes with one pad, consider buying an accessory pack with multiples. Other than that, the steam mop doesn't need any accessories to get your home clean, and you won't need to buy any chemicals or anything in the future, which is really nice.

The moisture and the pad itself do a great job at picking up all the miscellaneous stuff that ends up on you floor. It's these little things--like rocks and such--that end up getting stepped on and digging holes in your nice floors. Running the steam mop quickly around your home often will make sure to pick all these little things up and keep your new hardwood floors in great shape for a long time.

The finish they put on your floors can be destroyed by using harsh chemicals. This makes your floors vulnerable--both to the continued use of the chemicals, and the pebbles and dirt that end up on your floor and the furniture and shoes that scrape across them. The steam from the mop is a nice gentle alternative that will keep your floors clean and the finish on your floors in good shape.

For all of these reasons using a steam mop is the best way to clean a hardwood floor.