While a steam cleaner can be a useful tool for cleaning a carpet floor it should never be used on engineered hardwood.
Can a steam mop be used on engineered hardwood.
Alternatives to the steam mop to clean hardwood floors.
Moisture can seep between the layers weakening the bond and permanently damaging the floors.
Never use a steam cleaner on engineered wood floors because moisture can be forced down into the wood and cause damage.
Never use a steam cleaner on your engineered hardwood floor.
The steam from the mop would penetrate the wood the wood will absorb the water from the steam and then the wood will warp distort and discolour.
While researching the use of steam mops on hardwood floors i came across article after article that cautioned against using a steam mop on hardwood floors.
It depends on the floor is sealed or not sealed.
If the floor is sealed then there is no problem.
If excess water remains on the floor after cleaning use a towel to dry it.
In fact since the steam can degrade the adhesives used in the bonding process the danger of damage is actually even greater with engineered laminate flooring.
Not only the shark steam mop but also any steam mops need to avoid.
Though durable on the surface engineered hardwoods are bonded using adhesives and the steam cleaning can affect the quality of those adhesives.
As we have seen the question of can you use a steam mop on hardwood floors would tend to suggest you can but if you care about the condition and look of your wooden floors in the long term you really shouldn t.
If allowed to stand on the surface it can create spots and seep between boards causing the boards to swell.
Water is the enemy of both solid and engineered hardwood floors alike.
Answer to the question of can you use a shark steam mop on hardwood floors is yes and no.
The north american laminate flooring association nalfa does not endorse the use of steam cleaning machines on any laminate flooring.
Some steam mop manufacturers such as shark and bissell may say you can use it on a sealed hardwood floor but.
The steam can damage the wood surface by forcing water into the veneer and the top layer of hardwood.
That s true whether you have solid or engineered wood floors and for bamboo too.
A slightly damp mop can be used to remove remaining debris.
Otherwise there is a problem.
Steam mops are becoming very popular as they offer a deep hygienic clean and they are fantastic for tiles or vinyl floors but should not be used to clean any type of hardwood floor.
The premise is that despite mop manufacturer claims the steam from the mop moves through cracks in the floor more easily than water which penetrates below the sealer and the moisture.