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October 9, 2013
Hardwood floors have long been seen as a beautiful way to create a classic look. Not only are hardwood floors always in style but they can raise the value of a home and provide a durable surface for every walk of life. Installing hardwood floors can be seen as an investment in the future with which carpet, tile, linoleum or laminate simply cannot compete. However, caring for hardwood floors takes more care and effort than most other flooring styles.
There are many cleaning techniques and products to avoid using on your hardwood floors. This includes cleaning solutions, mops, brushes and sanitizers not specifically intended for use on wood. Wood can be affected strongly by numerous chemicals, making proper attention to detail imperative. Additionally, do not use excessive water to mop your hardwood floors as this can cause warping and mold growth. If your floors are pre-sealed with a urethane finish, do not use oil or wax. If you choose to move your furniture in the process of cleaning, either lift and place it carefully to avoid scuff marks or be sure all legs and feet have protective pads to prevent scraping.
Before you wash or polish your hardwood floors, take precautions to remove all dust, dirt and debris. Vacuuming is preferable to sweeping because it can more thoroughly remove particles stuck between boards. If you choose to vacuum your floors, be sure to use a hard floor attachment. For minor touch ups, you can use a soft mop with a dusting spray to keep your hardwood sparkling. For deep cleaning, you will need to be more meticulous.
In order to clean the dirt, oils and grime that can build up on the surface of your wood floors, you should use a wood-safe cleanser, like BONA. Following the instructions on the packaging, dilute a proper amount of cleaning solution as indicated or use the convenient spray and clean thoroughly with a soft mop. Cleaning products specifically designed for wood floors will kill bacteria and germs as well as protect your floor’s surface. Be sure to properly wring out your mop in order to prevent standing water that can damage the wood. If suggested, go over the surface once more with a damp mop. If it is humid outside or in your home, consider using an overhead or floor fan while cleaning to keep air circulating.
In between cleanings, you can take additional steps to prevent damage to your hardwood floors. To avoid scuffs and scrapes, cover the main walkways in your home with cotton rugs and proper slip protection. Keep pets with claws, high-heeled shoes and toys with wheels off your floors as much as possible. Be sure your windows are fitted with the proper blinds to avoid fading or discoloration from the sun, as well.
Hardwood floors are among the most coveted additions to a house, and rightfully so: they are attractive, timeless and add value to your home. In order to protect your investment, put the proper care and attention into cleaning and maintaining your hardwood floors so that you and your family can continue to enjoy them for years to come.
Guy Ventimiglia is the Sales Manager for Hardwoodbargains.com. He has over 23 years’ experience in the flooring industry, and is an industry expert in all types of hardwood flooring. When he isn’t working at Hardwoodbargains.com, he is enjoying time with his family skiing and snowboarding.
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19 Comments
Glad you liked the post! Thanks for sharing.
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I like that you said to keep pets with claws off of the hardwood floors. I’m not really a dog person. My wife loves dogs, but really wants a hardwood floor. They seem to be easier to clean. Maybe I’ll point this out to her and she will adjust her opinion on owning a dog. http://www.kenmarkfloors.com/about
Great point about making sure all the dust and grime is up before staining the floor. You wouldn’t want that stuff stuck underneath the varnish! Thanks for all the tips on hardwood floor maintenance.
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CaseyJones1 Thanks for the comment. Glad you found the tips helpful!
KentClark1 Tough call being a dog lover! If you keep their nails trimmed, it should be fine. Thanks for commenting!
Maintaining hardwood floors is probably something that would extend the life of your floor. The part about staining was interesting as well, because it is like a protective coat. It is probably a good thing that there are services out there that can help with hardwood floors. http://mansionhillcustomfloors.com
I’ve been worried that I’ve been caring for my floors incorrectly after reading this! :S More than once I’ve just gone over them with a mop and a bucket. I always dry right after, but is it bad for me to expose my floors to that degree of moisture?
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I thought the part was interesting where it mentioned to make sure you clean your floors thoroughly before polishing. There seem to be a number of ways to help maintain your floors and keep them looking nice. However, it would probably depend on personal preferences as to what kind they end up choosing. http://www.carpetsplusca.com/hardwood-floors/
I like the suggestion to make sure you get rid of all dust and debris before polishing wood floors. I imagine some items could actually damage the wood floor. It is best to make sure the floor is clean before you polish it.
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Jeffybridge Glad you found the article helpful! Thanks for the feedback!
James Lisbon Thanks James. Glad you found it interesting!
I want to get real hardwood floors in my next home. I absolutely love how they look. They feel more expensive. My only concern is how to care for them and clean them. This post helped me understand it a little better. http://www.thedenverfloorclub.com/hardwood-flooring/
I had no idea that vacuuming was preferable to sweeping. There just needs to be an adequate hardwood attachment. It wouldn’t be good to scratch up your floor while cleaning. I don’t have an attachment like that right now, so maybe I should go find one soon. http://frontrangeinteriors.com/flooring.html
Pyrrho Glad you liked the article! Yes, an attachment for your vacuum is highly recommended. Thanks!
I did the floors yesterday and it was actually a blessing in disguise.
As I moved stuff away from the corner in the living room, there were
some baseboard spots dirty enough to require a Magic Eraser.
Greets
Lily,
http://shepherdsbushcarpetcleaners.org.uk/
For me it’s quite an easy task to maintain the hardwood floors on my house into a clean state. Well, it’s all because most of my kids would try to avoid scratching the surface of the floor. So far I have seen several scratches on the floor but they look like it could be taken care of easily. http://www.rainwoodinteriors.com/hardwood-flooring
I agree that maintenance and prevention are key to having a nice hardwood floor at home. Scratching in particular can be the one trick that will keep you floor looking like new for a long period of time. Thanks for the tips!
Regards,
Deep Cleaning Merton Ltd.
http://deepcleaningmerton.co.uk/
I was found the article helpfuls. Thanks for sharing. My profile:
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