9 effective ways of cleaning wood stairs, to make your stairs shine

How to clean wooden stairs:9 Effective Ways to Make Your Stairs Shine

Staircases are exactly the place which many people clean quite rarely and which eventually get not pleasant appearance. Besides, cleaning wood stairs gets hard and you spend a great amount of time on cleanup.

The decision for the problem is straightforward. If you don’t want to spend much time cleaning wood stairs at a time and to pay lots of effort to scrub the dirt and oil, then it is better to clean the stairs more or less often. Additionally, using the right cleaning solution is crucial. Opt for mild cleaning solutions, such as dish soap or specific deck cleaning products, to avoid damaging wood finishes or leaving residues. This way, the situation can’t get bad, so you do a quick and easy cleanup.

So, let’s start!

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Necessary tools for cleaning your wooden staircase

Maintaining the pristine allure of a wooden staircase demands meticulous attention, more so than other parts of your home, given its susceptibility to wear and tear. Therefore, selecting the appropriate tools and products is paramount. Herein lies a compilation of our suggested essentials.

  • Microfiber cloths
  • Spray bottle
  • Mop
  • A soft toothbrush
  • A duster or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment
  • Dish soap
  • Water
  • Dry-cleaning sponge
  • Ice cubes
  • A plastic bag

How to clean wood stair railings

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We often touch the wood stair hand rails with dirty hands, so after some time the handrails accumulate a noticeable layer of oil and dirt. Here it is not necessary to use strong chemical products. First, clean the wooden handrails with a baby wipe to remove the dust and dirt. Second, combine vinegar and water and wipe with a cloth soaked in the mixture the handrails again.

Note: Avoid using a broom at all costs! It may not seem like it, but the broom’s bristles can wear off the finish and erode exposed wood over time.

Vacuum thoroughly

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If you have the carpeted stairs, this step is for you. It will be enough to vacuum the carpet from time to time to keep it in quite good condition. For heavy-duty cleaning and pet hair removal on carpeted stairs, consider using a steam cleaner. Unfortunately, a vacuum cleaner can’t deal with all the corners and crevices, so you have to clean hardly accessible places with a baby wipe or some cloth.

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Wet clean your carpet with cleaning solution

Sometimes, you need to do a wet cleanup to remove all the dust and grime. Take a wet cloth and handle each step and corner attentively. It is necessary to take all the excess water away after cleanup to escape molding. For this purpose, you can use a towel. Fold it a few times and try to push it down at each part of the carpet. If the carpet is really dirty, use some washing agent and a brush. Additionally, mix quality carpet shampoo with water and apply it with a brush for thorough stain removal on carpeted stairs.

    Cleaning wood stairs(look in the corners)

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    The only tricky moment in cleaning wood stairs consists in the fact that the dust and the grime accumulate in the corners and the crevices. A pressure washer can be highly effective for cleaning outdoor wood stairs, easily eliminating dirt and grime. When sweeping staircases and washing the stairs you also push the grime even farther, so it is necessary to handle the tricky places properly by doing outward movements.

    Clean the risers

    Don’t forget about staircase risers which are vertical parts of the stairs between the steps. Identifying the type of wood finish is crucial for proper maintenance of the risers. When cleaning wood stairs, the dust sticks to the staircase risers in addition to usual contamination. To remove the scuffs from the wooden stairs, you can use special products called magic erasers.

    Protect your wood

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    The main threat to wooden stairs’ safety is moisture which may cause a process of molding. To prevent the process, you should use a wet piece of cloth and dry the stairs once you finish a wet cloth. For unfinished wood stairs, applying a liquid or paste wax is essential for maintenance. Besides, you can handle the stairs with vegetable wax to protect the wood from moisture and destruction.

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    Refinish the banister

    Even when cleaning wood stairs including wood banisters properly, unfortunately, after some time the stairs won’t shine anymore because of the natural process of wear. Maintaining hardwood floors is crucial, and professional cleaning and refinishing should be done regularly to preserve their appearance and durability. However, you can solve this problem, too. It is easy to find a guide on how to do it on the web. Take into account that if you decide to renew the stairs, you will have to use serious instruments such as a power sander. If you don’t want to learn how to clean or renew wood banisters, one more option is to find a method how to remove banisters, of course in case it is not dangerous.

      Remove scuffs and wear

      Not only shine disappear, but also some scuffs and marks of wear usually may be seen on the staircase risers and the handrails. To fix the situation, the procedure of refinishing should be accomplished. You can find guides on how to do the procedure as well.

      Remove the carpet

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      In case your carpet condition worsened to such a degree that it is impossible to use the carpet anymore, why don’t you throw it away? Or maybe even if the condition is not so bad, removal of the carpet would make your life much easier. Maintaining wood floors is crucial, and different care requirements based on the type of wood finish are important to consider. The only thing you should consider is the appearance of the stairs under the carpet. You may need to do a modernization.

      Pro tips for heavily stained wooden stairs

      If your wooden staircase has accumulated grime, it might be tempting to use strong cleaning agents to remove the stains. However, exercise caution, as bare wood and certain finishes are susceptible to damage from aggressive chemicals. Identifying surface-sealed wood is crucial for easier maintenance, as it only requires sweeping and mopping. Here are appropriate methods for cleaning different types of tough stains safely:

      • For general stains: Moisten a cloth with mineral spirits and gently scrub the area until the stains are no longer visible. Always wear rubber gloves and make sure the area is well-ventilated.
      • For soot marks: Employ a dry cleaning sponge to softly rub away the stain. If the sponge picks up dirt, cut off the contaminated section and continue. Afterward, mop the area thoroughly to remove any residue.
      • For sticky residues: Here’s a straightforward technique to tackle gum or adhesive remnants. Place a bag of ice cubes over the sticky area for about five minutes to harden the residue. Then, carefully use a plastic scraper to remove it.
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      While these methods are effective for most stains, some deeply set ones might not come out. If appropriate for your budget and plans, refreshing your staircase with a new coat of paint could give it a clean and revitalized look.

      Wooden staircase preventive measures and maintenance

      Follow these measures to keep your wooden staircase in the best condition for longer!

      • Clean them regularly. Make dusting and sweeping your staircases part of your daily cleaning routine. That way, you’ll avoid dirt accumulating and staining your stairs over time.
      • Clean up spills immediately. Even if your wooden staircase has a finish, it’s better not to risk it. Clean up right away any spills you see before they leak or leave a watermark.
      • Identify unfinished wood. Unfinished wood requires specific care, such as waxing, and can be identified by the presence of smudges when touched.
      • Don’t use heels. Thin heels can put too much pressure on a small area. Constantly going up and down stairs with these types of shoes could damage the wood. So, try not to wear them when using the stairs.
      • Cover dings and scratches. Dents will eventually appear on your wooden stairs, no matter how careful you are. Use protective wax to fill those dents whenever they appear before they get bigger.

      That is all. We hope you learned all the information you need on how to clean wood stairs, a carpet, wood fences, and so on.

      How to organize under the stairs?

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