Hardwood flooring, whether new or refurbished, can be a stunning addition to any house. They are, nevertheless, a significant financial investment.
With a few basic maintenance suggestions, you can extend the life of your investment. Here’s how to maintain the beauty of your hardwood floors long after they’ve been installed or renovated.
Begin with a thorough sweep
You should sweep hardwood once a day, but a regular broom won’t suffice. Invest in a dust mop like the O-Cedar Dual-Action Microfiber Sweeper or a comparable product. These mops feature broad heads that capture dust without scratching the finish of the floor.
Make careful you swivel the mop to turn and push it in one direction. Lift the mop head off the floor just after you’re finished. Dust and lint will be discharged into the air if you raise the mop too soon, and you’ll have to re-mop the area you just completed.
There will be a line of muck where your mop stopped after you’re finished. To collect it, use a tiny microfiber brush and a dustpan.
After that, throw the mop’s end into a rubbish bag. Close the sack’s opening around the handle with your hand and shake the mop vigorously to expel dust and dirt trapped within.
Maintain a dry environment
Wet mops and steam mops should not be used on wood floors, despite what you’ve heard about cleaning. According to the National Wood Flooring Association, dampness may ruin the finish and eventually degrade the wood.
Instead, clean your wood floors with a wood floor cleaner. Many of these products are designed to work with the sort of finish you have on your flooring, so check the labels carefully before buying.
When cleaning, carefully follow the guidelines on the bottle. It is normally advised that you scrub your floors with cleaner only once a month.
Keep Hardwood Floors Clean by Taking Two Extra Steps
There are a few additional things you can do to keep your hardwood floors in good shape:
- Get a floor mat: Having quality floor mats immediately inside the door will assist catch dirt before it reaches your hardwood floors. Your mat should be long enough to take two to three steps before reaching the real wood flooring for the greatest results.
- Take off your shoes at the door: Place a shoe rack at the door or remove your shoes in the mudroom. If the dirt on the bottoms of your shoes stays in the entrance, so does the dirt on your shoes.
Salt should not be used on the porch
Many materials, including wood flooring, are affected by salt. Although you want to protect the ice from turning your porch into a slick danger, adding salt may cause more harm than good.
Small salt particles are captured by footwear and deposited on entranceway mats, boot trays, and flooring. Even if you clean your floors often, even minute quantities of salt will eat away at the finish.
Consider using more natural ice melting options, such as fertilizer or sand, but keep in mind that these materials may harm your hardwood floors. Consider heated porch mats or in-ground ice-melting devices for a safe porch surface that leaves no toxic residue.
Furniture pads should be used
This simple procedure will keep your wood floors clean throughout the year. Furniture pads are especially vital on heavier and movable items because they protect the finish and prevent scratching, gouging, and other unpleasant blemishes.
Look for low-cost furniture pads that can be trimmed to size and fitted to fit your specific pieces of furniture. Make that the adhesive is in good working order, and replace the pads as needed.
Invest in the Right Cleaning Supplies
This wood flooring maintenance advice is applicable year-round, but proper cleaning equipment is especially important in the winter. During the colder months, expect to be cleaning, mopping, and sweeping your hardwood or engineered wood flooring more frequently, especially around entrances and other high-traffic areas.
Rather than merely dragging dirt about your floor, invest in a high-quality mop, particularly one made of microfiber or similar material that collects dirt particles. Cleaning particles from wood flooring using a soft-bristled vacuum is also highly effective. Dry mops produce a nice sheen, but they should be used according to the instructions provided by your wood flooring store or manufacturer.
Each of these suggestions will assist to extend the life of your wood floors and keep them clean over the winter. Do your share to ensure that wood floors have their beauty and charm for many years to come.
Spills and puddles should be wiped up as soon as possible
Spills happen at any time of year, and mats won’t always capture all of the wetness. To maintain the wood, make it a practice to mop up spills as soon as possible. Encourage family and visitors to remove their damp shoes and boots before walking on the floor by keeping a quality mop or cloth at the entryway.
In addition to cleaning
Cleaning your hardwood floors isn’t the only way to keep them looking beautiful. You should also take certain precautionary precautions.
To avoid damage to the wood, clean up spills or any other moisture as soon as possible. Spot cleaning is best done with a moist cotton or microfiber cloth.
Consider putting a UV coating to the windows in your home. Over time, UV radiation can bleach the hardwood, creating discolored blotches in locations that receive the most sunshine.
Things with sharp edges are undesirable. For example, don’t sashay across the floor in high-heeled shoes. The pointed heel has the potential to cause divots in the wood. Because furniture legs can leave impressions and scratches on the floor, felt floor covers should be placed on the bottom of each leg.
Cleaning hardwood floors on a regular basis is as simple as that. It’s a simple procedure that will keep your floors looking great for years. Follow these tips to keep your hardwood floors clean during the whole year.
