Despite the high cost, hardwood floors are worth every dime. They are durable, tough, and beautiful, making your home stylish and classy.
If you recently installed hardwood floors, you want to maintain this elegance as long as possible. Hardwood floor maintenance routines can extend the lifespan of your floors to 25 years.
If you want your floors to be as pristine as the day of installation, you are on the right page. Keep reading to learn some hardwood floor maintenance tips.
1. Clean Spills Immediately
Hardwood floors are stain-resistant. Compared to carpets and other flooring alternatives, hardwood floors are the best. Carpets are impossible to remove stains unless when removed immediately.It's not to mean that you should neglect stains on your hardwood floors completely. You should clean up spills immediately with a dry or slightly damp cloth.
Spills occur from time to time. If you have children, the frequency can be higher. This is not a big deal as long as you clean it up immediately.
If spillages soak in the board, it risks the floors absorbing the liquid.
If the hardwood floors are left to soak, you may need to eliminate and replace the affected boards.
2. Dust the Floors Often
While it's apparent dusting is an essential hardwood floor maintenance tip, some people don't understand why it's necessary.Tiny particles of dirt or dust can easily be trapped in the space between the hardwood planks. Piling up this dust becomes a disgusting gunky mess. Use a microfiber mop as it gets in between the planks effortlessly.
Daily dusting of the floors reduces the risk of scratches or damage by small rocks dragged across one of the boards.
Even if you have a no-shoes policy in your home, dust forms everywhere. Daily dusting doesn't have to be excessive or detailed. You just need to dust off the floor.
3. Vacuum Once a Week
The microfiber mop can't handle bigger dirt problems. You need vacuum cleaning at least once a week. This ensures any crumbs or dirt missed when dusting is captured.Vacuuming your floors reduces the chances of your hardwood floors getting scratched. If you don’t have the time to vacuum your floors every day, a robot vacuum might save you the trouble. Most robots are suitable for hardwood floors.
Make sure to use a soft-bristled brush attachment. Different vacuum attachments may damage your floors.
4. Regulate Humidity
Wood and water don’t mix well. Moisture causes wood to warp, shrink, and rot. If hardwood flooring care is a priority, you should keep in check your home humidity levels.The humidity level should be between 30 and 50 percent. If you have a room that is vulnerable to high humidity levels, you can run a humidifier.
During installation, make sure your hardwood floor company assesses the landscape and risks of water penetration. During the rainy season, some rooms may be vulnerable to water infiltration.
You need to keep in check the humidity levels of the floor. Don’t trek in wet shores on the floor.
5. Use Furniture Pads
Furniture pads protect your floorings effortlessly. It prevents scratching, nick, or other damage on your hardwood floors.Hardwood floors are prone to scratching. Heavy furniture dragged on the floors can damage the floors.
Even when you don't move your heavy furniture often, you need furniture pads. Accidents happen every day. Furniture items can drop or slide across the floor.
While you cannot completely avoid some level of scratching, you can reduce the risks. Furniture pads provide an extra layer of protection between the item and the floor.
6. Only Use Cleaning Products Recommended by Manufacturer
Every manufacturer will offer a hardwood floor maintenance guide. Take upon the advice offered on cleaning products.Several cleaning products are reactive with hardwood floors. Products like ammonia have many cleaning purposes in your home. However, on hardwood floors, it dissolves the lignin in the wood.
Bleach is commonly used to remove stubborn stains. However, on hardwood floors, it can cause permanent discoloration.
Some cleaning products are highly abrasive. Hardwood floor maintenance requires the use of non-corrosive, discoloring, and abrasive products.
If you are stranded on which cleaning products to use, your hardwood floor maintenance company can figure that out for you.
7. Polish Your Floor
Most hardwood floor installation is treated with a polyurethane surface finish. This protects your floor against damage and increases longevity.If you want your floors to maintain the shiny luster intact, you should repolish after two to three months.
Make sure to use recommended floor polish. Keep in mind that you should polish with a buffing pad and not wax. Polyurethane finish is not compatible with wax.
Your hardwood floor maintenance company can advise you on the best polish products. Hardwood floor installation is expensive. You don't want to risk your floor with trial and error.
Besides floor polish, it is recommended to apply hardwood cleaner once a month. Don't over-apply. Also, make sure your cleaner is compatible with your floor.
8. Hardwood Floor Maintenance should be Consistent
Hardwood flooring care is not a one-day activity. You have to regularly clean, vacuum, polish, and evaluate the condition of your floor.Dusting, vacuuming, using hardwood cleaner, and floor polish need to be consistent.
Over time you might notice your floors start to look a little dull. Every 3 to five years, you can refinish your floor. Depending on your family lifestyle, how often you clean, refinish, or vacuum will vary.
Keep your Hardwood Floor at Its Best
Hardwood floors are a major investment for your home. You should get value for your exorbitant floors with proper hardwood caring strategies.Hardwood floor maintenance tips don’t have to be a burden. Implementing the above tips will keep your floors looking brand new and admirable for years.
If you are looking for hardwood floor maintenance advice, consult with our team of professionals. We offer the best floor installation and maintenance services.
