There are many reasons why people choose to install hardwood flooring including the luxurious aesthetic of it, how easy it is to clean, and the durability once installed. While hardwood flooring is easier to clean than other flooring types like carpet, there are some precautions to take to ensure your hardwood flooring lasts for generations which is why Swiffer WetJet offers specific cleaning options for hardwood flooring.
You can use a Swiffer WetJet on hardwood flooring with their wood-specific cleaning solution and mopping pads to maintain the quality and lifespan of your hardwood floors. It is recommended to use the wood-specific products as other options can be less effective at protecting your wood floors.
Hardwood flooring in a home is an attractive feature that not only increases the saleability of your home but also looks great when well maintained. To keep those hardwood floors looking luxurious, you need to be mindful of the products used to clean them.
Best Practices for Cleaning Your Hardwood Flooring
While taking care of hardwood flooring can seem tedious, it is made easy by the polyurethane finish used to protect it, making it durable and resistant to wear and tear. Along with using the right cleaning products for your hardwood flooring, there are a few other best practices to help keep your floors clean and shiny. Please note, it is important to check the care instructions for your specific flooring as stated by the installers as there may be some variation.
Take Your Shoes Off
When you arrive home, before stepping onto your hardwood flooring, be sure to remove any outdoor footwear that could otherwise track in dirt and abrasive pebbles that could scuff and dull the shine of your flooring.
Move Large Furniture with Care
To maintain the shine and smooth finish of your hardwood floors, be careful when moving large furniture across its surface. See if you can enlist the help of friends and family members to lift large items of furniture instead of sliding them across the hardwood.
Vacuum Hardwood Floors Regularly
Because of how hardwood flooring is installed in pieces, dust and debris can settle into the cracks and crevices over time. The best way to remedy this is to vacuum your hardwood regularly (once a week) to pick up these large particles of dirt.
Deep Clean Hardwood Floors Regularly
About once a month, or as needed, use a damp mop system like Swiffer WetJet Wood to thoroughly clean the surface of your hardwood flooring. Doing so maintains the shine and look of the floor while minimizing allergens and stains.
Clean Up Spills Right Away on Hardwood Surfaces
Even though the wood is treated with a durable liquid-resistant coating, if a spill is allowed to sit on hardwood flooring, it runs the risk of seeping into any unseen cracks and crevices causing warping to the wood pieces and discoloration of the topcoat.
Swiffer WetJet Wood vs The Regular Swiffer WetJet
While Swiffer WetJet’s cleaning solutions and mopping pads were technically designed to work on most flooring types, the wood-friendly options were designed to maintain hardwood flooring specifically, which requires a streak-free shine achieved with non-abrasive surfaces and solutions.
Swiffer WetJet Wood Solution vs Swiffer WetJet Multi-Surface Cleaners: What’s the Difference?
Swiffer WetJet Wood Solution is the best option for hardwood flooring as it is designed with a quick-dry formula so that the cleaning solution is unable to pool on your hardwood flooring thus avoiding the potential for warping the flooring. This solution comes in an inviting home scent.
Swiffer WetJet Multi-Surface Cleaner is designed to clean most flooring surfaces and is not safe for unfinished wood surfaces. While the multi-surface cleaner comes in a variety of scents such as lavender and vanilla, open window, sweet citrus and zest, Gain Original, and Unstoppables, it may not be ideal for any flooring surface where the chance of liquid pooling could warp or damage the flooring.
Swiffer WetJet Wood Mopping Pad vs Swiffer WetJet Original Pad: What is the Difference?
Swiffer designed the Wood Mopping Pad specifically with wood floors in mind. The mopping pad is made of a softer microfiber-like material that is completely non-abrasive to wood flooring while still having a specialized soft strip that locks away dirt particles. This is the most compatible Swiffer mopping pad with hardwood floors.
The regular Swiffer WetJet Mopping Pad is suited to most non-carpet flooring types and comes with a strip designed to grip and lock away dirt particles. While the disposable mopping pad is soft, it has some texture to allow it to better hold on to dirt instead of pushing it around.
What are the Similarities and Differences Between the Wood Starter Kit and the Regular WetJet?
There are quite a few similarities between the Swiffer WetJet Wood Starter Kit and the regular Starter Kit. They both come with 1 power mop handle, 1 bottle of solution, 5 mopping pads, and 4 batteries for operation.
The installation and operation of both units are the same however the solution and mopping pads that come with each differ based on the respective unit. The wood starter kit comes with the quick-dry wood solution and softer wood-specific mopping pads whereas the regular kit comes with a bottle of multi-surface cleaner and regular mopping pads.
Do the Prices Vary Between Swiffer WetJet Wood and the regular Swiffer WetJet?
Typically, you will find that Swiffer Wet Jet Wood Starter Kits cost slightly more than regular Swiffer WetJet Starter Kits due to the specialty nature of the wood-care products. Price variance for the individual components (the mopping pads and the cleaning solution) can depend on where you purchase them from. Again, it is reasonable to expect the Swiffer Wood cleaning solution and wood-specific mopping pads to cost a bit more than the regular solution and mopping pads, though not by much. See the latest prices on Amazon by following the links below:
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The Basics of the Swiffer WetJet Wood Cleaning Kit
Are Batteries Included with Purchase?
Yes, the Swiffer WetJet Wood Cleaning Kit comes with 4 AA batteries that you must insert yourself.
How Do You Set Up the Swiffer WetJet Wood Mop? (Step By Step with Images)
1. Remove all of the parts from the box.
2. Remove the battery cover from the solution cartridge area of the mop.
3. Insert all 4 batteries as indicated on the battery cover.
4. Reinstall battery cover on to mop cartridge holder.
5. Leaving the cap on, insert the bottle of solution into the cartridge holder until you hear a click.
6. Slide the two halves of the mop handle together until it clicks into place.
7. Insert mop handle into mop base, make sure it clicks into place.
8. Press a mop pad onto the bottom of the mop base.
9. Press the button on the handle to spray the cleaning solution and begin mopping.
How to Clean Your Hardwood Floors with the Swiffer WetJet: A 4 Step Guide
Step one: Sweep and Vacuum Before Using Your Swiffer WetJet Wood
Sweeping and vacuuming prior to using your Swiffer WetJet will pick up any large particles of dust, hair, and other debris that could be trapped in the fine cracks of the floor. This step preps your floor for a smooth clean finish as mopping a surface that has a lot of dirt and debris on it can leave it feeling sticky to walk on afterward.
Step two: Prep Your Swiffer WetJet Wood
Following the video or steps mentioned above, ensure your Swiffer WetJet is assembled correctly. Pay close attention to how your Swiffer WetJet is spraying. If it is uneven, you may need to change the batteries. You should also ensure you have enough cleaning solution for your flooring if you have used your Swiffer WetJet before.
Step three: Begin Mopping with Your Swiffer WetJet Wood
Press the button located on top of the handle to spray the cleaning solution and begin mopping. Be careful to not allow any cleaning solution to pool on your hardwood flooring as this can warp the hardwood boards.
Step four: Dispose of the Swiffer WetJet Wood Mop Pad After Each Use
Because the Swiffer WetJet mop pad is designed to catch and lock in dirt, it is best to dispose of it after each use to minimize the future spread of allergens.
Swiffer WetJet Wood Mop FAQs
Is the Swiffer Wet Jet Safe for Pets?
Yes, Swiffer WetJet products are safe for use around pets as long as instructions on how to use your Swiffer WetJet Wood Mop are followed. It has been found that the Swiffer WetJet solution is not concentrated enough to cause liver damage in pets. As is the case with any household cleaner, it is important to store the Swiffer WetJet solution out of reach from your pets as ingesting large amounts can be harmful. It should also be noted that ingesting the mopping pads can cause gastrointestinal blockage.
Best Practices for Using a Swiffer WetJet with Pets
Even though it is safe to use your Swiffer WetJet around your pets and allow them to walk on the floors before they are fully dry, you can take extra precautions by limiting access to the freshly mopped room until the floors are dry. Be sure to store the mopping pads out of reach and toss out used mopping pads, being mindful if your pet has a habit of getting into the garbage to avoid gastrointestinal issues if eaten.
Can I Refill the Swiffer Solution Bottle When Empty?
Yes, you can refill the Swiffer solution bottle with your own homemade cleaner when empty, however, removing the cap from the bottle can be tricky. One method is to boil water and dip the bottle inverted, cap side submerged into the water. After a minute or so, you can use a towel to safely twist the cap open as shown in this video.
How Do I Make My Own Swiffer WetJet Cleaning Solution?
Making your own cleaning solution is easy. For daily cleaning, mix 4 drops of mild dish soap with 2 cups of warm water. For deeper cleaning, mix 4 drops of mild dish soap, 1 cup of distilled white vinegar, and 1 cup of warm water to lift messy dried on spills and dirt.
Can You Use the Swiffer WetJet Wood on Laminate?
Yes, Swiffer WetJet Wood can be used on laminate flooring. This is because laminate flooring is made of wood materials and behaves similarly to hardwood. Laminate flooring also benefits from the quick-dry formula that the Swiffer WetJet Wood cleaner offers as any pooling or lingering of liquid can warp the flooring. Swiffer also offers a specific cleaning solution for laminate flooring.
Can Swiffer WetJet Wood Be Used on Tile?
Swiffer WetJet Wood is safe to use on tile flooring. The quick-dry formula offers a streak-free clean finish that is safe to use on most finished surfaces. However, the best option for tile is the Vinyl, Tile, and Laminate solution.
Are There Any Surfaces that Swiffer WetJet Wood Should Not Be Used On?
Swiffer WetJet Wood should not be used on any unfinished surface such as unfinished, oiled, or waxed wood, non-sealed tiles, and carpet.
Are Swiffer WetJet Mopping Pads Reusable?
Swiffer WetJet mopping pads are not reusable. They are designed to catch dirt and debris, locking them in, and should be disposed of after one use. Using them again renders them less effective at pickup up and locking in dirt. Washing Swiffer WetJet mopping pads compromises the fabric also making it less effective.
Are There Alternative Reusable Options to the Swiffer WetJet Mopping Pads?
There are reusable alternative mopping pad options that are compatible to use with your Swiffer WetJet that can prove to be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Alternative options work safely with a gentle non-abrasive microfiber surface that can be washed with the rest of your laundry after each use.
What Are Some Common Issues with the Swiffer WetJet?
One of the most common issues is that the spraying function stops working as it should. You might notice that one side is spraying more or less solution than the other or that it stops spraying altogether. In most cases, the first thing to check is that the solution bottle has been attached to the cartridge holder correctly. It will click into place and remain secure when properly attached. The other issue to check for is that the batteries have been installed correctly or they may need to be changed if some time has passed.
What Kind of Warranty does Swiffer WetJet Have?
Swiffer offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on its Swiffer WetJet Starter Kits. Along with the mail-in Swiffer return form, you need to attach the original sales receipt, circling the date to show it is within 30 days of purchase, and you will be refunded the full purchase price on a prepaid card.
Is The Swiffer WetJet Wood Option Worth It?
The Swiffer WetJet Wood option is worth it if you want to keep your hardwood flooring looking pristine, clean, and streak-free. The quick-dry formula is designed to prevent warping of the hardwood flooring pieces which can occur when any liquid is allowed to pool on the surface. Likewise, the mopping pads designed for wood flooring are also designed to be protective and non-abrasive to your hardwood floors. It is pet safe, easy to assemble, and cleans well, making the Swiffer WetJet Wood system a worthwhile investment.
Feel free to check out our Swiffer vs Bona article to see the differences between these mops.
Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.