How to Clean and Polish Timber Floors
How to clean timber floors by finish, bring the shine back to a dull polyurethane coat, and when “polishing” really means sanding and recoating.
Read the guideCleaning 101.
A little know-how. More room for life.
Floors & surfaces
Floor and surface cleaning guides
The right way to clean a floor or surface depends on what it is made of and how it is finished. Start with the table below: it matches each material to its guide, and says so where we don't have one yet. Then come timber floors, tiles and grout, vacuuming, blinds, metal surfaces and dust that seems to come straight back. Stains on carpet and couches are in Stains.
13 guides · Edited by Huy Hoang · Updated
FIND YOUR PROBLEM
Find the problem
Start from what you can see. Each row points to the guide that deals with it.
| What you’re seeing | The guide for it |
|---|---|
| A timber floor that looks dull or patchyThe guide explains how to tell a cleaning job from a worn finish. | How to Clean and Polish Timber Floors |
| Dust back on the furniture within a day or two | How to Get Rid of Dust — and Stop It Coming Straight Back |
| The vacuum leaves hair and grit behind | How to Vacuum Properly (and Get More From Your Machine) |
| Blinds grey with dust or kitchen grime | How to Clean Blinds — Every Type, Without Wrecking Them |
| Deciding whether timber floors are worth it | Timber Flooring Pros and Cons: Is It Worth It? |
| Streaky windows or grimy window tracks | How to Clean Windows Without Streaks |
| Grubby walls, doors or light switches | What Is Sugar Soap and How Do You Use It? |
| The air conditioner smells when it starts | How to Clean a Split System Air Conditioner |
START HERE
Where to start.
- How to Clean and Polish Timber FloorsTimber floors: how to tell the finish, the cleaner to use, and when a dull floor needs more than cleaning.
- How to Vacuum Properly (and Get More From Your Machine)Getting more from the vacuum on carpet and hard floors.
- How to Get Rid of Dust — and Stop It Coming Straight BackDust back within a day or two: where it comes from and the order that stops it.
REFERENCE
Choose by floor or surface
Find what the floor or surface is made of, then its guide. A cleaner that suits one material can dull, etch or swell the next, so identify it first.
| Floor or surface | How to recognise it | Keep off it | The guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coated timber (polyurethane) | Water beads on the surface; a satin or gloss film | Wet mops, steam mops, vinegar, and wax or silicone products | Timber floors |
| Oiled or hardwax-oiled timber | A matt, natural look; water soaks in or leaves a mark | Polyurethane refreshers; use the oil maker's cleaner | Timber floors |
| Engineered timber | A timber top layer over a core: check the paperwork | Whatever its top finish rules out, as above | Timber floors |
| Laminate | A wood look under a clear wear layer: check the product name | Follow the maker's care sheet | No guide yet |
| Hybrid or vinyl plank | Check the product name or paperwork | Follow the maker's care sheet | No guide yet |
| Ceramic or porcelain tiles | Glazed or matt tiles with grout joints | Acidic sprays near cement grout | Tiles |
| Tile grout | The joints between tiles; most homes have cement grout | Vinegar, lemon and acidic sprays, which corrode cement grout | Grout |
| Natural stone (marble, limestone, travertine) | Stone tiles or benchtops; ask the installer if unsure | Vinegar, lemon and any acid, which etch it | No guide yet |
| Carpet and rugs | Wall-to-wall carpet, rugs and runners | Rubbing a spill: blot it | Vacuuming |
| Blinds | Aluminium, timber venetian, roller, Roman or vertical | Depends on the material: the guide covers each type | Blinds |
| Stainless steel | Appliance fronts, sinks and splashbacks | Chlorine bleach and scourers | Stainless steel |
| Aluminium frames and furniture | Window and door frames, outdoor furniture | Abrasive cleaners, solvents and etching chemicals | Aluminium |
Summarised from the linked guides, which cite the makers' care instructions. The product name or your purchase paperwork is the reliable way to know what a floor is. Where we have no guide yet, follow the maker's care sheet. Source: Australian Timber Flooring Association, Timber floor coatings. Checked 6 October 2026.
Floors
Cleaning by material and finish: timber, tiles and grout, and the vacuuming that every floor needs. The tile and grout guides also appear in Bathroom.
How to Vacuum Properly (and Get More From Your Machine)
Most people vacuum too fast and skip the filter. The technique, pass pattern and maintenance that actually get carpet and hard floors clean.
Read the guide
More room for life.How to Mop Floors Properly
Vacuum first, then mop with a well-wrung mop, warm water and a little cleaner, rinsing it in a second bucket. Plus each floor type and how to wash the mop.
Read the guide
Timber Flooring Pros and Cons: Is It Worth It?
What timber floors are genuinely good at, where they struggle in Australian conditions, and the maintenance cost people underestimate.
Read the guideDust, blinds and surfaces
Dust that settles on everything, blinds of every type, and stainless steel and aluminium surfaces. The metal guides also appear in Kitchen.
How to Get Rid of Dust — and Stop It Coming Straight Back
Two thirds of household dust blows in from outside. Learn where it really comes from, the right order to dust a room, and what actually keeps it from returning.
Read the guide
How to Clean Blinds — Every Type, Without Wrecking Them
Venetian, roller, roman, vertical or honeycomb — each type of blind needs a different method. Here's how to clean yours safely, and which ones must never get wet.
Read the guideMore room for life.How to Clean Brass and Remove Tarnish
Wash any brass in warm soapy water first. Only solid, unlacquered brass gets lemon and salt, a vinegar paste or Brasso; plated or lacquered brass never does.
Read the guideMore room for life.How to Clean Windows Without Streaks
Wash windows in the shade with lukewarm water, a few drops of dishwashing liquid and a squeegee. Tinted and Low-E glass, tracks, fly screens and ladders.
Read the guideMore room for life.What Is Sugar Soap and How Do You Use It?
Sugar soap is an alkaline wall cleaner. Mix ½ cup in 5 litres of warm water, wash from the bottom up, rinse, and keep it off aluminium and brass.
Read the guide
How to Clean a Split System Air Conditioner
Clean washable split-system filters safely, check specialist inserts, and keep outdoor airflow clear. Know when leaks, odours or internal dirt need service.
Read the guide
How to clean painted walls without damaging the finish
Test the finish, lift dust and gently clean fingerprints and scuffs from painted walls.
Read the guideOutside the house
The backyard and the porch or verandah. Pavers, outdoor furniture and the barbecue are on the list.
Backyard Clean-Up: How to Tidy, Organise and Refresh It
Where to start on a backyard that has got away from you, how to store outdoor gear so it stays tidy, and the jobs worth doing before summer.
Read the guide
How to Clean Your Porch or Verandah
Cobwebs, leaf litter, mould on the decking and grime on the railings. A porch clean that holds up through an Australian summer.
Read the guideWHEN YOU’D LIKE A HAND
Some days, leave it to us.
For the regular upkeep, a deeper reset or a home you’re moving out of. Find the clean that fits.
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