One of the first renovations we made when we moved into our Del Ray home seven years ago was to refinish the hardwood floors prior to unpacking. While it was inconvenient to delay our move waiting for the finish to dry, the floors desperately needed some attention. Once shiny and new again, we were faced with a floor dilemma: How to keep them that way.

When it came to cleaning our hardwood floors, I sought out information on how to best care for them and was surprised at how easy they are to maintain. They don’t need the scrubbing or hard cleaning of other floor coverings. In fact, I discovered the best way to maintain the shine of hardwood floors is to sweep regularly. Small particles of dirt and debris act like sandpaper to wood flooring and can dull the finish. Regular dry sweeping is the first defense in protecting the shine of your floors.

If your hardwood floors require a wipe down, my favorite technique combines a gentle cleanser with the best tool I’ve found for a low-moisture mop—Quickie hardwood floor cleaner.

When choosing a cleanser, look for one designed specifically for hardwood floors. I like to use a small amount of method Dilutable Cleaner, which is listed as “safe for most washable hard surfaces.” I tested it prior to first use but it is a natural cleaner without a strong odor.

By lightly dampening the reusable mop head, the floor gets clean without applying too much moisture, which can warp hardwood flooring (A great investment, the mop has also proven useful in other applications, such as wiping down walls and ceilings). Never use a standard mop to clean hardwood floors as it retains too much water and may have abrasive surfaces or edges that can scratch flooring.

I used to be intimidated on how to best keep our lovely floors nice and clean but even I can handle a weekly sweep and occasional wipe down if it means our floors will retain their finish for years to come.