It is critical that you understand how to maintain hardwood floors. Once you’ve made the decision to replace your carpet or laminate flooring with gorgeous wood floors, you’ll want to keep them in good condition for a long period of time. In reality, the fundamental component for the durability of these shiny, dark surfaces is a simple deep clean. When it comes to gleaming wood floors, it does not matter if your home has solid, artificial, or upcycled wood because the overall care practice should generally be the same. Fortunately, the routine isn’t too strenuous and does not need to happen frequently. However, there are still details that are critical for upkeep, so you must be careful with what you are doing. With that being said, here’s everything you have to remember about cleaning wood floors so you don’t damage their finish or shorten their lifespan.
Vacuum Regularly
It is no secret that filth and grime accumulation may make cleaning hardwood floors difficult. Keeping dirt off the surface of your hardwood floors is critical, and proper cleaning is recommended. This not only improves their beauty, but it also prevents potential injury. For example, if you walk through a piece of garbage on a wood floor, it feels like sandpaper on the sole of your feet or shoe and this has the potential to damage or scrape the surface. Even pet hair has the ability to harm your wood flooring, so be cautious.
If feasible, perform a basic sweep every day. Then, use a dry mop or dust mop to remove any leftover dust and debris. You may even use a non-wet microfiber mop or towel to clean up your floors. If you can’t sweep your entire house every day, focus on high-traffic areas like entryways and hallways as frequently as possible. Making a basic cleaning schedule will help guarantee that you are regularly and effectively cleaning every area and space in your home.
You’ll also need to vacuum on a regular basis. This will assist pick up any small particles that dusting alone may miss, and the powerful suction of a vacuum cleaner is especially effective for pulling up dust and dirt in crevices and gaps and between your wood panels. To avoid scratching the surface of your floor, you must make sure you’ve selected the hard floor mode, which shuts off the brushing roll or beater bar. You might also use a flat connector to protect the floor from bristles, since the last thing you wish to do is scuff the floor you’re attempting to clean.
Use the Right Cleaning Products
There is no hard and fast rule for selecting a cleaning agent for a thorough wash. Because various finishes necessitate different treatments, it is advised that you pay attention to the product specifications of your finish and flooring supplier.
However, there are several cleaning chemicals that should never be used. For example, it is not recommended to use strong chemicals to clean any hardwood floor since chemicals added to the finish can induce haze. This can quickly accumulate over the course of a year or so and does not look pleasing to the eye. If you’ve done this before, a moist microfiber cloth bathed in warm water is an easy approach to remove the foggy coating. You should also avoid using anything that claims to polish, shine, renew, or reinvigorate your wood floor. Although they may sound appealing, these so-called cleaning treatments aren’t truly helping your hardwood floors.
Keep Floor Relatively Dry
Once you’ve chosen the correct wood floor cleaner, apply it with a moist mop to the floors. You don’t want to start soaking the flooring with a damp bucket since this will cause the wood to face damages. As a result, a microfiber mop is preferable to a cotton mop because it uses less water and does not leave you with a soaking wet mop. You’ll also save time wringing out the mop tip, making it a win-win situation for both you and your wood flooring. Professionals also advise against using a steam mop. Though it cleans wood floors thoroughly, it allows vapour to penetrate small places and harm the floorboards in your rooms.
Recognize Warning Signs
When it comes to pristine wood flooring, understanding how to maintain hardwood floors isn’t the only factor to consider. The environment in which your floor is located is also an important factor in its care and endurance. Because wood reacts substantially to temperature and humidity, it’s critical to understand these aspects as well, even if they’re beyond your control. Being mindful of red flags is your greatest line of protection. The great thing about hardwood is that it is a natural product that will show you if it has been harmed by anything. Additionally, if there is too much dampness on, around, or beneath the hardwood, it will compress. To prevent this from happening, remove the origin of the water, particularly any standing water. Extreme dryness causes gapping, cracking, and splitting. In this case, a humidifier should suffice because the moisture in the air will help your floor to ease back down.
Recoat When Needed
When the floor begins to deteriorate, it is time to recoat it. A recoat is when you add another coat of treatment to the top of the flooring to restore its brilliance and liveliness. This means you won’t have to endure the hassle of sanding your flooring. This practice may extend the life of a floor for many years by applying a protective layer each time it is required. There are several floor treatments available, and the best option for refinishing may be determined by the demands and specifications of your wooden flooring.
Hardwood floors are an amazing flooring option that the general public tends to choose and that is for good reason. They are durable, long-lasting and they add to the aesthetics of your home. To truly reap the benefits of your hardwood floors and take care of them, you must know everything about them. For instance, you must vacuum them regularly, use the right cleaning products for them, keep them relatively dry, recognize their warning signs and recoat them when needed. If you have further questions about your hardwood floors, contact a flooring contractor today!