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Written by Grove Collaborative

How to clean bamboo floors for a natural shine.

Last Updated: September 10, 2021


Bamboo floors are durable but not indestructible — cleaning them the wrong way could end in disaster. Here’s how to clean bamboo floors the right way.

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Bamboo floors are all the rage — they’re modern, eco-friendly, and durable. But if you don’t take care of them properly, you can easily damage them beyond repair, and your bamboo flooring experiment will end in tears.


We don’t like tears, so we’ve prepared this bamboo floor cleaning guide to help you take care of your bamboo floors the right way.

What is bamboo flooring?

Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that matures in five years and self-regenerates — it doesn’t need to be replanted. Growing bamboo doesn’t require deforestation or other environmental destruction, and it requires very little water to grow.


Bamboo flooring is made out of this grass and comes in a variety of styles and colors, and it’s available in natural or engineered planks.


Give this short, eye-popping video a watch to see how — and how quickly — bamboo grows:

Love you some bamboo? We’ve got lots of products made with it — check out our 11 most-beloved bamboo products!

Bamboo flooring pros and cons

Pros

  • Environmentally sustainable renewable resource
  • Low-maintenance
  • High quality bamboo is as durable — or more so — than conventional wood flooring

Cons

  • Easily absorbs water if not properly sealed
  • Susceptible to damage from excessive humidity
  • Less-expensive bamboo flooring may off-gas formaldehyde and other VOCs

Grove Tip

Is bamboo flooring waterproof?

While quality bamboo flooring is generally more water-resistant than typical hardwood floors, it’s not waterproof — and therefore not ideal for bathrooms and other wet, humid areas in your home.

What is the best cleaner for bamboo floors?

For the most part, the only thing you need to clean your bamboo floors are a microfiber mop and a microfiber dust mop — and maybe a few spritzes of water.


Microfiber removes visible and microscopic debris from your floor, including bacteria, mold spores, dust mite parts, and other allergy- and illness-causing particles. Most conventional mops and dust mops just push dirt around.

How do you deep clean bamboo floors?


Occasionally, you might need to deep clean your bamboo floors. In that case, use a hardwood floor cleaner that’s pH-neutral.


If your cleaner is too acidic (like vinegar) or too alkaline (like ammonia), it’ll damage your floor’s finish. The best bamboo floor cleaners are nontoxic and biodegradable.

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What cleaners should you not use on bamboo floors?


Some highly acidic cleaners slowly (or quickly!) eat away at the finish of your bamboo floors. Others leave behind residues that dull the shine or turn it milky — and make the floor very difficult to recoat down the road.


Never use these cleaners on bamboo:


  • Ammonia
  • Bleach
  • Vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Waxes
  • Furniture polish
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Hydrogen peroxide

Is Murphy’s Oil Soap safe for bamboo?


No!


Murphy’s Oil Soap and other soap products can damage the protective coating on the floor and even cause it to peel off.

Should you use a Swiffer Wet Jet on bamboo?


Nope!!


It’s best to spritz your microfiber mop head with a pH-neutral hardwood floor cleaner.


If you spray the cleaner directly on the floor, it can seep into the seams between boards and damage the floor over time.

Can you steam clean bamboo floors?


Never!


The best way to destroy your bamboo floors is with steam — the wood will absorb the moisture, which may cause irreparable damage like swelling and warping.

What is the best way to clean bamboo floors?

Regular cleaning and maintenance will keep your bamboo floors in tip-top shape.

Daily upkeep

Use a dry microfiber mop or microfiber dust mop to clean your bamboo floors every day.

If the floor has lots of dirt and dust on it, use a soft-bristled broom to sweep it up, then do the microfiber dusting.

Weekly maintenance

Every week, take to the floor with a damp microfiber mop.

Remove the microfiber pad, soak it in warm water, wring out as much water as you can, replace the pad — and mop!

Monthly deep clean

Every month — or as needed — deep clean your bamboo floors with the pH-neutral hardwood floor cleaner of your choice.

Follow the directions carefully — especially if it’s a concentrate.

Grove Tip

How do you shine bamboo floors?

The best way to shine your bamboo floors is to damp-mop them with a microfiber mop, which — by its very nature — won’t cause streaks.


The best way to keep them streak-free and shiny is to avoid using waxes, silicones, soaps, and other products that leave streaks — and dull the finish over time.

How to deal with scuffs, spills, and stains on bamboo floors

How to remove scuff marks from bamboo floors


If your floors are light-colored, scuff marks will probably look pretty obvious.


To remove them, apply a little hardwood floor cleaner to the corner of a microfiber cloth, rub them away, and buff the spot with a dry corner of the cloth.

How to clean spills from bamboo floors


If you spill anything on your floors, wipe it up right away with a soft, dry towel.


Then, get out your microfiber mop, dampen it, and thoroughly clean the area.

How to remove water stains from bamboo floors


For some reason, mayonnaise sometimes works to remove or reduce discoloration or stains.


Schmear the stain with mayo, let it sit for 15 minutes, then wipe it off and polish the floor with a dry microfiber cloth.


Whether or not this remedy works for you depends on your floor and the type of stain you’re trying to remove. At any rate, it won’t make the stain worse.

Grove Tip

How to clean engineered bamboo floors

Engineered bamboo flooring is, in general, up to 30 percent weaker than natural, solid bamboo, which is a real tough dude.


This type of bamboo flooring is more susceptible than natural varieties to wear and tear, but cleaning it often with the same cleaners and methods you’d use on natural bamboo will help extend its life.

How to protect bamboo floors: Do’s and don’ts

Do:

  • Trim your pets’ nails to prevent large (and microscopic) scratches that will dull your finish over time.
  • Attach soft felt pads to the feet of your furniture to avoid scrapes and gouges.
  • Keep your home’s humidity level between 30–50 percent to prevent drying or swelling.
  • Put rugs in front of the kitchen and bathroom sinks and the shower or bath if you have bamboo flooring in these rooms.
  • Sweep, dust, and mop bamboo floors in the direction of the grain.

Don’t:

  • Use latex- or rubber-backed mats, which may trap moisture against the floor and discolor it.
  • Wear street shoes on the floor — fine debris on the soles can scratch the surface.
  • Allow direct sunlight to shine on your bamboo floors — it’ll fade them over time. Pull the blinds when the sun is out — or let the sun shine in, but rearrange your furniture and rugs often.
  • Vacuum your bamboo floors — the tiny debris stuck to the vacuum cleaner wheels causes micro scratches that will dull the finish over time.

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