Hardwood Flooring Care and Cleaning Tips

Hardwood floorings are typically more expensive than many other styles of flooring. However, if they are properly care for, this could be a one time investment that lasts a lifetime. Here are some tips.

The first thing you want to do is take steps to prevent gradual erosion on the surface. The surface finish will begin to wear away from dirt and small pieces of rock. You can slow down this process by placing mats or rugs in all entranceways.

If you allow these particles to be tracked onto the floor, they will begin to act as sandpaper as the floor is walked on. Even with mats and rugs, some of this debris will find its way onto the floor. This is why keeping the floor clean is so important.

Large pieces of debris can be swept away with a broom, but a soft dust mop will be gentler on the floor's surface. The force of the broom may actually defeat the purpose by causing the same effect you are trying to avoid.

The rotating bristles on a vacuum cleaner may have the same effect on your floor. Setting the vacuum to the floor position may help to prevent this. Instead of being drug across the floor, the particles will be lifted off the floor.

Even vacuuming and brooming will not get rid of all of the dirt. The remaining debris can be taken care of with a simple wet mop. In this case, wet means moist. Be sure to avoid excess water being left behind after you mop. This can damage the floor in several different ways.

Obviously, mildew growth is a major concern, but mud particles may result from the dust that falls back down onto the wet floor. Then you are back to square one when the mud particles begin to wear away the surface. Using a moist mop will allow the floor to dry quickly, eliminating this problem.

Try to eliminate stains as soon as they occur. The floor will resist common kitchen spills, such as coffee and tea, if it has a quality surface treatment on it. If coffee is not cleaned up quickly, it will melt through the wax finish and find it's way into the small grooves. The problem can be even worse with materials such as acid-containing tomato juice and grease. If these spills are removed in a timely fashion your floor will last forever.

When moving furniture, make sure you lift it instead of dragging it. If a scratch does occur, it must be sanded and refinished. You can also repair it by filling it in with wood putty and staining it. This problem can be avoided by placing felt on the legs of your furniture.

Even the best hardwood floorings will fade if exposed to direct sunlight. You can avoid this problem by using curtains to block the harmful UV rays of the sun. The sun can be redirected to the walls and ceilings by using louvers rather than blinds. This will also help to protect the floor.

Regular treatments with compounds designed for hardwood floors will give you added protection. This will not only protect against scratches and stains, it will also help to reflect the rays of the sun.

Some hardwood floorings, such as Brazilian Teak, Walnut, and American Oak will come along with as much as a fifty year warranty. Unfortunately, these warranties only cover major defects in the planks. Ordinary scratches, stains, and scuff marks from everyday use are not covered. By using the tips and techniques listed above, many of these problems can be avoided and make your floor last much longer. Considering the money spent on this type of floor, it only makes sense to give it the best care possible.

         

Flooring Installation and Care