The owner, who has covered the floors with parquet boards, hopes to maintain the performance qualities and respectable appearance of this coating for as long a period of time as possible. Since it is made from valuable natural wood, its operation involves some restrictions that do not apply to some other types of flooring: for example, it does not tolerate heavy watering with moisture.
But it is not always possible to achieve the desired cleanliness only by sweeping or wiping with a dry cloth, so the owner inevitably faces the question - how to wash the floors to keep the flooring in excellent condition? A good solution would be to purchase a washing vacuum cleaner designed taking into account the characteristics of this type of product. Vacuum cleaner for parquet: significant parameters, types of models.
Washing vacuum cleaner with bubble attachment
Features of parquet boards
To determine the parameters that the device you purchase should have, you need to know how parquet structures for covering floors are constructed.
The general structure of this flooring
The peculiarity of the structure of this product can be described as follows: it is assembled from superimposed layers of wood, of which there are most often 2 or 4. The top layer is always a cut of valuable wood, has a noble appearance and attractive texture and is covered with a varnish or oil coating that performs a decorative function and protecting from moisture and temperature changes, and the bottom (base - solid board) is made of cheap softwood, responsible for strength and durability.
When composing a board from layers, the following principle is observed: the fibers of the board of each layer must be perpendicular to the underlying sections. The middle layers of multilayer boards are composed of individual dies adjusted to size. The layers are connected to each other using a special glue. If moisture penetrates between the layers of boards, this can lead to swelling of the boards and disruption of the structure - which is why the question of how to properly clean the coating is especially acute.
Accessory - nozzle with brush for cleaning parquet
The best vacuum cleaner for parquet
Or how to choose the right model.
Vacuum cleaners for parquet are an indispensable thing in homes with high-quality and natural flooring. Parquet board is a high-quality, beautiful and warm material. But in order for it to be durable, while maintaining a respectable appearance for many years, it requires special care. Unlike tiles or linoleum, wood “lives” and “breathes”. It turned out that many happy owners of parquet floors do not use a vacuum cleaner for the package. For a long time it was believed that the humidity created by such devices is detrimental to wood. Is it really? Let's try to find the answer together.
What special properties does parquet board have?
As we said, this is a breathable material. It perfectly absorbs moisture, expands with intense moisture and shrinks during the heating season.
Water is the main enemy of wood, but not the only one. Spilled liquids, pet tricks, sand and dust also destroy the shine and beauty of a varnished board. Grains of sand and dust particles, getting into the pores and leaving micro-scratches, destroy your floor. Without water, dry cleaning alone will not get rid of dirt; however, wet cleaning of parquet flooring is necessary.
Vacuum cleaner for parquet boards: selection criteria
So what models are capable of not only keeping the parquet floor clean, but also effectively protecting it from gradual destruction and deformation?
Contrary to well-known myths that washing parquet boards is only possible by hand, household appliances in your home can be designed for both wet and dry cleaning. Such a concept as a washing vacuum cleaner for parquet surfaces is no longer a novelty today. Its distinctive feature is that, unlike a rag, it instantly collects moisture from the floor surface, preventing it from being absorbed. Washing models not only do an excellent job of cleaning the house every week, but also help quickly collect spills and puddles left by animals or small children. These devices save the parquet flooring from stains and deformation.
Examples of such a vacuum cleaner for parquet are Thomas DryBox Amfibia, Parkett Prestige XT, Parkett Master XT, Allergy & Family, etc. The listed models are designed for cleaning wooden floors. They are equipped with Aqua Stealth technology and a special nozzle of the same name, which delicately and carefully washes the varnished surface.
But the main feature of these devices is the technology for rapid absorption of moisture, which allows you to get rid of puddles and liquid dirt in a matter of seconds.
Which nozzle for parquet is better?
Do not use hard bristle brushes or other abrasive materials to clean natural wood floors. After all, they will damage the varnish layer. And water and dirt will inevitably begin to accumulate in the cracks.
The attachments can be lint-free (with replaceable microfiber cloths) for wet cleaning or have soft natural bristles (horsehair) for dry cleaning. For example, in the mentioned models of vacuum cleaners for parquet floors from Thomas, both the first and second types of nozzles are used.
What other components are important?
Frequently washing parquet floors is not recommended - even with all the additional precautions. But if there are small children or allergy sufferers in the house, then daily cleaning becomes a necessity. And the filtration elements of vacuum cleaners with water barrier technology show the greatest efficiency in getting rid of allergens and dust. The aqua filter is capable of cleaning not only floors, but also the air in dry cleaning mode, simultaneously trapping any allergens.
Conclusion
The statement that parquet floors are washed only by hand has long been irrelevant. But even the best cleaning models should not be used on wooden floors too often. Therefore, the ideal option is devices with an aqua filter or vacuum cleaners with a dry cleaning function for smooth and uneven surfaces, which also have the function of washing parquet and laminate floors.
External processing of parquet boards
Methods for cleaning floorboards largely depend on the characteristics of its outer covering:
- The situation is easiest if the elements are varnished. It has the property of forming a film that reliably protects wood from moisture, so this parquet can be cleaned using water;
- Wet cleaning is absolutely not suitable for waxed boards: they are cleaned with wax compounds or solvents;
- Oil-coated boards should not be washed with copious amounts of water, which is due to the nature of these coatings: they do not form a film like varnish, but penetrate between the fibers of the wood and tend to gradually wash out of it with repeated wet cleaning. Therefore, such a board should only be wiped with a soft damp cloth along the direction of the fibers of the top layer. This should be done only in those contaminated areas that cannot be removed by sweeping or cleaning with a dry cloth. For the above reason, it is recommended to periodically renew the oil layer.
Example of a vacuum cleaner for cleaning parquet
Criterias of choice
The most effective way to clean parquet floors is to carry out small but regular activities, where the main assistant can be a vacuum cleaner. Frequent cleaning helps prevent dirt from sticking to the surface. When using technology, it is recommended to check that the brush has soft bristles or a special silicone attachment for wet cleaning.
Frequently washing such a floor is harmful, especially if the parquet is treated with a wax or oily coating. For such cases, you can find special household appliances for sale for this type of decorative coating.
Every experienced buyer knows that the cost of a vacuum cleaner depends on the power and functionality offered by the manufacturer. Even if there is no suitable unit on sale, you can separately purchase a nozzle as a nice addition, which will make cleaning the parquet easier and safer for the flooring. More expensive models include a wet cleaning function, while the manufacturer takes into account the specifics of parquet as a material and adjusts the equipment so that the floor remains minimally wet.
Particular attention should be paid to the surface of the brush that touches the parquet. The absence of scratches is one of the main conditions, therefore the most acceptable materials are felt or camel hair. You can often find silicone or simple rubber, which also do not harm the floor.
Other structural elements of the vacuum cleaner must also be made of a special material or have special fuses made from the same silicone.
This applies to both the wheels and the hose.
A store salesperson can offer several options for household appliances for parquet flooring, including:
- robot vacuum cleaner;
- for dry and wet cleaning;
- for dry cleaning.
The main advantage of vacuum cleaners with a dry cleaning function is the ability to remove old dirt from the surface and destroy germs, thereby ensuring high quality cleaning. The disadvantages of most models are the hinge joints and brushes, the design and material of which are poorly designed by the manufacturer, resulting in unattractive scratches on the floor surface.
If you purchase such a unit, then only with an additional special attachment, which will have soft fuses installed in the design - this is the only way to avoid unwanted marks on the mirror surface.
For home use, there is no point in buying equipment that is expensive, since it is equipped with additional functionality. These are often large units that will require a lot of storage space.
Criteria for choosing a vacuum cleaner for parquet boards
Before you start searching for the most suitable vacuum cleaner, you need to identify the main criteria that you should focus on when considering different brands and types of products:
- The presence of soft rubber protective cushions mounted on the wheels: this is necessary to prevent the appearance of cracks and other damage that can be caused by wheels made of metal and even plastic;
- As high power settings as possible. This requirement is based on the presence of chamfers (bevels) on parquet units, in which dirt and dust tend to accumulate, therefore the vacuum cleaner must have sufficient power to remove dust, including from designated hard-to-reach places. If you purchase a unit for wet cleaning of a varnished floor, power is also very important, because even for such a floor, excessive and prolonged wetting is not advisable, and the vacuum cleaner must be able to suck all the liquid back;
- Availability of different types of nozzles – soft, wide and hard, more compact sizes. The first is needed for basic cleaning, the second is for cleaning corners and board joints.
Compact model of vacuum cleaner for parquet boards
Types of vacuum cleaners
Vacuum cleaners for natural wood flooring can be oriented strictly towards dry cleaning, or combine dry and wet functions. Also, these products have certain differences in design. Which vacuum cleaner to choose is determined by the characteristics of your board.
Vacuum cleaners for dry cleaning of parquet boards and parquet
These models differ in the criterion of where the collected dust goes:
- The most conservative are models with a dust collector in the form of a linen bag. They are disposable and reusable, paper and fabric. The advantage of paper bags is that, after being removed from the vacuum cleaner, without opening them, they are immediately sent to the trash bin, which protects household members (especially allergy sufferers) from unnecessary contact with dust. Fabric bags, alas, lack this property, but they last a long time. The disadvantage of this model is that the buyer must restock new bags from time to time;
- Models equipped with a cyclone filter collect filtered dust in a transparent plastic container (which allows you to monitor its filling level). Unfortunately, due to the high speed of dust processing, they generate a lot of noise, but they are quick and easy to work with, and they are usually small in size;
- Model with a water container: in this case, the dust enters the water and settles there. Wet cleaning cannot be done with such a device. The advantages are a large capacity, no need to purchase new filters, quick absorption of spilled liquid, saturation of the air with moisture vapor (at the same time, dust from the air falls on the floor and the vacuum cleaner sucks it up from there). The downside is that filter maintenance is quite labor-intensive: the container must be constantly washed and dried after use.
Nozzle with steaming effect, suitable for washing marble and colorful surfaces
Washing vacuum cleaners
The vacuum cleaners under consideration are partly similar to models that collect dirt in a container of water, and also have the ability to suck up water, but, in addition, they are also equipped with a container for clean water, with which wet cleaning is carried out. It is permissible to add a little foaming agent to the liquid to carry it out.
Water collects dust and forms it into pieces, and the device sucks it in and directs it into a filter container. The downside is that such devices do not always perfectly collect spilled water, so their use is only indicated for products that have a varnish treatment. It is also worth mentioning the significant weight and dimensions of these models.
Types of vacuum cleaners by design features
Models differ in the control method - they can be simple wired with a button (they make up the majority of this market segment), with infrared control and radio control (these are expensive and rare models). They also differ in the structure of the body, being divided into the following groups:
- Conservative container wire models on wheels;
- Vertical “mop” vacuum cleaners without wheels are the lightest and most convenient;
- “backpacks” hung on the cleaner’s back, with only the nozzle in contact with the parquet;
- Remote control robotic devices.
Difference between vacuum cleaners by power
For the quality of floor treatment, it is not so much the power consumption that matters, but rather the suction power. For monitored boards it should be at least 350 watts. This parameter is especially important when considering devices equipped with a water filter.
How a washing vacuum cleaner performs wet cleaning
The parquet cleaning vacuum cleaner is equipped with two containers, one of which is filled with clean detergent, and the second one is used to drain the used detergent. Liquid is supplied to the vacuum cleaner brush through a small tube laid to its nozzle, which is equipped with a special brush with a protective layer of microfiber. It is this area that is moistened with the cleaning composition, thereby wet cleaning the parquet flooring without exposing it to excessive moisture.
Washing vacuum cleaner inside
After wet cleaning, all reservoirs with a detergent composition must be removed from the vacuum cleaner and thoroughly rinsed, which will avoid clogging of its liquid supply and drainage system, which will result in an extended service life of the device. It is also worth carefully inspecting the vacuum cleaner nozzle for tears in the microfiber layer; this must be done to avoid possible leakage of cleaning liquid through it, which could harm the structure of the parquet.
The equipment of washing vacuum cleaners, as a rule, consists of several options for nozzles for floors made of parquet boards, having different shapes, with the help of which wet cleaning is carried out in inconvenient places and corners of the room. The main advantage of these devices is the ability to carry out cleaning work more efficiently, spending a small amount of time on it, but it is worth remembering that you should wet clean parquet with a vacuum cleaner no more than several times a month, otherwise there is a chance of damaging the floor.
Reviews about models
“The lightweight and compact Bosch BCH6ZOOO handheld device does an excellent job of collecting dust and cat hair. The design of the device and its high power allow cleaning to be carried out in a very short time. It works silently and the dust collector is cleaned quickly. But the price is quite steep - it cost us 18,000 rubles.”
Anna, 36
“I chose Thomas Mistral XS with a water filter for dry cleaning of oiled parquet. The device works quickly, removes all excess liquid from the floor, there is no need to replace the filter. But, unfortunately, there is a need to thoroughly rinse the hose and filter after each use.”
Yulia, 43
We have reviewed the main types of vacuum cleaners that are acceptable for use when caring for parquet flooring, and, based on the characteristics of a particular board, you can choose the most suitable unit.
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How to choose a vacuum cleaner for parquet: material of nozzles and brushes
The main function of some modern models of vacuum cleaners is to clean parquet flooring. What sets them apart from other vacuum cleaners is the presence of several special attachments and brushes that do not scratch the floor surface, as well as silicone rotating elements that do not interfere with the movement of the unit on the parquet board.
If you are planning to purchase a regular vacuum cleaner and special attachments designed for cleaning parquet, then choose this device based on its main characteristics. By and large, if you most often use a vacuum cleaner specifically for cleaning parquet and laminate flooring, then the brand of the device and its power do not matter much, because Absolutely any unit will remove dirt and dust well from a smooth and even surface. In this case, it is much more important to choose suitable nozzles.
A good vacuum cleaner attachment for parquet should be covered with especially soft materials that, when in contact with the floor, will not leave even microcracks on its surface. Pile, felt, camel hair, and special fabric have such qualities. There are also a number of rubber or silicone-coated attachments that, along with cleaning, polish the parquet board. Another good device for reliably and carefully removing the toughest stains is a horsehair brush, the structure of which cannot damage even the most fragile surface.
In addition, a vacuum cleaner with a parquet brush must have a special shape. Since parquet boards are very susceptible to any mechanical influences, moving furniture on it is highly not recommended. It is also impossible to lift all the objects in the room every time you clean. To make it easier to tidy up a room with parquet, you should buy a flat and narrow nozzle that can penetrate into the most remote corners of the room. In addition to these types of nozzles, you may find triangular nozzles useful, which are ideal for cleaning the corners of rooms. Those who dream of perfect cleanliness will certainly like the rotating nozzles, which can change their shape during operation, penetrating into all corners and nooks. As a rule, moving nozzles are equipped with several modes, so they can be used in rooms with different floor coverings.
However, when choosing a vacuum cleaner and attachments for dry cleaning of parquet, it is important to monitor not only the softness of the brush bristles, but also the safety of all structural elements. Ideally, all parts of the brush that come into contact with the floor should be either made of a special material or covered with silicone fuses. Otherwise, damage will remain on the wooden surface of the floor, which will subsequently lead to deformation and costly repairs.
How to choose a vacuum cleaner for cleaning parquet
Vacuum cleaner attachment for parquet
