How to Remove Footprints on Hardwood Floors (And Prevent Them)

Did you know footprints on hardwood floors are also called ghosting?

Your house isn’t haunted and it’s a relatively easy fix!

In this guide you’ll learn:

  • How to remove footprints from hardwood floors
  • How to prevent footprints on hardwood floors
  • Why do you get footprints on hardwood floors in the first place?
footprints on hardwood floors

How Do You Remove Footprints From Hardwood Floors?

First a note: when I say removing footprints, I am assuming these are footprints that have shown up AFTER your floor has been fully installed and cured. This guide is not for fixing footprints that are embedded in your floor coating – something that could happen if someone steps on your floor too soon after the coating has been applied.

Step 1: Sweep up and vacuum the entire floor

This won’t necessarily get rid of the footprints, but it’s a necessary step before moving on to the next one. Without it you’ll just be pushing around dirt and debris while you try to damp mop.

And when you’re vacuuming make sure you use the hard floor setting – shut off the rotating brush bar.

Step 2: Damp mop with appropriate hardwood floor cleaner

As previously covered in How to Remove Murphy’s Oil Soap from Hardwood Floors – as a general rule, it’s best to avoid using dish soap, wax, polish, or oil soap on your hardwood floors – particularly polyurethane-coated floors. Each of these can either potentially damage your floor or deposit residue that is both hard to remove completely and will cause you to have MORE problems with footprints.

It’s also KEY not to have too much water on your mop when you clean the floor. It should be just barely damp and should not be dripping.

(Some of the below links are affiliate links which means I get paid a bit if you click through and buy something — it doesn’t add anything to your cost! Just helps keep the lights on.)

You should get your mop just barely damp -- it should not be dripping or leave behind wet spots

What you’ll need:

Instructions:

  1. Dunk your first pad or cloth into the cleaning fluid and wring it out until it’s just barely damp and not dripping.
  2. Clean a small section of your floor – about 4×4 feet
  3. Dry the section with a dry cloth or rag
  4. When the cloth on your mop starts to get dirty, either replace your wet mop pad/cloth with a clean one or rinse it out in the clean water bucket be

Here are some tips for working with a mop and cloth when cleaning your wood floors:

How Do You Keep Footprints Off Hardwood Floors?

Regular Cleaning

Clean the floor regularly by sweeping, vacuuming, and/or damp mopping with either water or an appropriate floor cleaner.

When vacuuming, make sure you are using it on the bare floor setting which will turn off the beater bar. Beater bars can damage hardwood floors.

Use your trusty microfiber or terry cloth mops and rags to clean off the floor via the damp mopping method.  

If you’ve got Matte Finish Hardwood floors read: How to Clean Matte Finish Hardwood Floors

Using Doormats and Rugs

Place rubber-free doormats at all entrances to encourage wiping off shoes as people enter the house.

Add area rugs in high-traffic zones like hallways, entryways, and living rooms. Not only will this protect your floors from footprints and other wear and tear, but it will also add an extra layer of warmth and comfort to your home.

Say “No” to Shoes but “Yes” to (Clean) Socks and Slippers or Indoor Shoes

The easiest way to prevent footprints is to have a no-shoe policy in your home. Shoes can bring in dirt, debris, and oils which can leave prints on your floors.

Encourage family and guests to remove their shoes when they come in and have a designated area for shoes by the door.

Want to go the extra mile? Have clean slippers or indoor shoes available so you can wear those when you get home.

Protect Your Floors From Pet Pawprints

Keep your pets’ paws clean and regularly groomed. When they come into the house, wipe off their paws with a towel that you keep near the door. Provide your pet with a designated area that has comfortable mats and a bed.

Don’t Use Cleaners That Will Leave Residue

If you try to clean a polyurethane-coated floor with an oil soap, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap, or wax polishes you will be left with a residue after it dries that will cause footprints to stand out on the floor. Only use appropriate cleaners for your floor that do not leave a residue.

Why Do You Get Footprints on Hardwood Floors?

Sources of footprints:

  1. Dirt, dust, and debris from outside: tracking in a mess from outside is probably your most common source of footprints.
  2. Sweat and body oils from feet: there are oils on your skin and if you’ve recently applied lotion to your feet that could definitely be the culprit
  3. Spills and stains, particularly from the kitchen and dining room: no matter what you’re wearing on your feet or how clean they are, if you step into a spill from the kitchen or dining room, you might track that onto your wood floor.

Factors that contribute to footprints being more visible:

  1. Floor type and color – darker floors will show footprints more easily
  2. Lighting conditions: the brighter and sharper the light, the more likely you’ll see footprints.
  3. Frequency of cleaning and types of cleaners used: Washing with oil soap or other soap that leaves residue.
  4. Type of finish: Matte and satin finishes hide imperfections better than high-gloss finishes
Picture of Tom Powell

Tom Powell

Over the last 7 years, I’ve done a bit of everything when it comes to maintaining and repairing my 110-year-old house. Installed vinyl plank and vinyl peel and stick flooring, resurfaced and stained wooden porch, leveled and installed tiling on a concrete floor, resurfaced our kitchen cabinets… It never ends, but it feels great when you finish a project yourself and end up with a beautiful new (or repaired) floor.

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Picture of Tom Powell

Tom Powell

Over the last 7 years, I’ve done a bit of everything when it comes to maintaining and repairing my 110-year-old house. Installed vinyl plank and vinyl peel and stick flooring, resurfaced and stained wooden porch, leveled and installed tiling on a concrete floor, resurfaced our kitchen cabinets… It never ends, but it feels great when you finish a project yourself and end up with a beautiful new (or repaired) floor.

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