Hardwood floors are a stunning part of any home. Wood has been used for centuries for its natural strength and beauty, and it is still the material of choice for flooring today. It’s a common view that well-maintained wooden floor surfaces will appear better and last far longer than those that aren’t. So, how should a wooden floor be cared for and maintained? You’ll be relieved to learn that it’s not that difficult and doesn’t necessitate a lot of effort. Read on for tips on how to keep your wooden flooring looking great.
Never steam clean or damp mop a wood floor. Ever.
Long-stick squeeze mops simply do not properly wring out the mop head, and even small amounts of water can cause your floor to swell and cup over time. For all you tough, old-school types out there, getting on your hands and knees and cleaning the floor with a carefully squeezed-out conventional sponge is typically not a hazard to your floor, but we feel horrible forcing you to clean your floors that way.
Vacuum with soft nozzle
Carpet beaters and brush rollers can damage the finish, therefore vacuum with a soft floor nozzle. Shop for a robot vacuum that won’t vacuum itself into a corner and will run for at least an hour before needing to be recharged.
Polyurethane floors should never be waxed!
Polyurethaned hardwood flooring seems drab and dreary to you. You shouldn’t even try to do it yourself. Wax will prevent you from topcoating your polyurethane floor with more polyurethane which is the proper technique to restore luster.
Rugs can be used
Placing mats at external doorways will help keep sand and grit out of the house when visitors arrive. You should use area rugs in places where there is a lot of traffic, such as the base of stairwells.
Attack sticky material as soon as possible
Use a damp clean cloth, a little drop of wood floor cleaner, and a thorough rub. If you don’t enjoy crouching, plant one foot on a rag. Remove dust and pet hair with a microfiber mop head that has been treated with a positive electric charge in order to trap negative-ion debris. Continue to move the mop head with the grain.
Don’t use solutions containing vinegar or baking soda
Today’s multi-functional treatments are superior to old-fashioned vinegar and dish detergent therapies, which can actually harm or dull polyurethane. Unfortunately, the cure is sometimes as bad as the disease.
