Thursday 19 November 2020

How To Clean And Maintain Hardwood Floors?


Nothing beats the classic look of gleaming hardwood floors throughout a home. It’s a timeless flooring option that many people love. True hardwood floors can be quite an investment and they need proper care to keep them in good shape. Here are our top tips for cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors in your home.

Cleaning Tools To Have On Hand:

● Broom with soft bristles
● Microfiber Mop For Damp Mopping
● Quick dusting – disposable electrostatic cloths
● Vacuum (use hardwood setting)
● Microfiber cloth for spills
● Wood floor cleaning products
● Water-based floor polish

The best thing you can do for your hardwood floors is to get into a predictable cleaning routine. We constantly track dust and dirt into our homes as we come and go. If you have kids or pets then, as you can imagine, there is even more debris pet hair that can end up on the floor. A daily, weekly, and deep cleaning routine will keep your floors looking nice.

Daily Dusing – Did you know that dust and microscopic debris can cause a lot of damage to hardwood floors over time with tiny scratches? Daily dusting, sweeping or using a dry mop, can cure that problem. You’ll also reduce allergies in the home with daily floor dusting.

Weekly Cleaning – Even with daily dusting the floors will build up some dirt. Use liquid sparingly and only use cleaning products recommended for your wood finish. Cleaning liquid should be ph-neutral, biodegradable, and non-toxic.

Quarterly Polishing – Polishing wood floors helps extend their life by creating a thin protective barrier. It also makes them shine. Remove dust and debris first. Start with clean floors. Use a water-based polish every three months or so.

What Does Refinishing Wood Floors Mean?

If the floors are old or have been neglected you can refinish them to repair damage and get them looking stunning again. People usually refinish their floors every 10 years or when buying a new home where the floors are not in good shape. The top layer is sanded down and a fresh stain and lacquer are used to cover the existing wood.

How To Protect Wood Floors?

  • Prevent scratches by keeping floors clean, adding a mat to entryways, and using area rugs. High heel shoes are especially bad for hardwood floors. Also, keep your pet’s nails trimmed.
  • Do not allow standing water to sit on the floor. Water, high temperatures, and humidity can cause the floors to buckle. If you will be away in the summer make sure to keep the air conditioning on to protect the floor.
  • Renew the finish every few years to brighten dull floors.
  • Beware of using cleaners that cause a waxy buildup.
  • Shield floors from excessive UV rays by closing the blinds or curtains mid-day.
  • In the winter be careful of tracking salt from the roads and sidewalk into the house.

The best way to protect wood floors is to keep them clean and dry. If cared for well they will last a long time.