How to Maintain and Take Care of Hardwood Floors

 

You can easily maintain and care for your hardwood floors, despite what you might think. Following a few easy tips from your trusted vinyl flooring company can keep your floor looking brand new for many years. 

Here are some pointers for caring for and maintaining hardwood floor:

Establish A Routine

Your hardwood floor has to be cleaned regularly. Seasonal changes bring many things that might dull your hardwood floor, including rain, mud, snow, salt, leaves, dirt, and more. Setting up a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule is the first step in maintaining hardwood floors and keeping them looking beautiful. Establish a plan and adhere to it.

Keep It Dust-Free 

One of the most manageable and underrated steps in the procedure is this one. To keep dirt and dust off the floor, dust it every day. This will shield your floor from scuffs and increase its beauty and lifespan. 

After daily dust mopping, significantly fewer allergens will be present in the home. A microfiber material uses a static charge to attract more dust and allergens than conventional methods, which makes it more efficient. These more minuscule threads more effectively extract dirt from floor pores. 

Weekly Vacuuming and Mopping

The hardwood floor should be vacuumed once a week. This will remove any leftover dust or dirt tracked onto the floor. Ensure you use a machine with soft bristles to prevent scratching the wood, and always be gentle when using it. A self-cleaning mop should be used to mop the floor. This will help remove dirt, pet hair, and other debris from the surface of the wood.

Every Week

Over time, debris builds up on hardwood floors. It’s essential to clean them periodically as a result. Both suitable and wrong methods of cleaning floors exist. Use a cleaner made for the finish on your floor instead. More liquid can damage floors, while the lousy mixture may not work. 

To protect your house and the environment, look for cleaning products that are pH-neutral, nontoxic, and biodegradable. Vinegar, for example, can harm the finish even when diluted with water. Instead, use a washable microfibre pad to eliminate microorganisms and stop rubbish from ending in landfills.

There are better approaches for cleaning hardwood floors than Sweeping since it spreads dust into the air. But if you choose to clean, choose a broom with gentle, angled bristles and sweep counterclockwise. 

Every Three Months

Polishing hardwood floors can make them look fabulous and enhance the protective finish. This should be done every three months (or more often in high-traffic places). Start by cleaning the floor first, then apply a thin coat of polish with a damp mop or cloth. Next, a buffing machine spreads the polish to a glossy finish. Be sure to use only a little product, which can cause build-up and slippery the floor.

A soft cloth or brush is perfect for touching up scratches or abrasions on hardwood floors. It’s always best to use stain pens that match your floor’s hue rather than

Quarterly

Your hardwood floors will shine more and last longer with polishing. Dust or sweep the floor to remove any loose particles before polishing. To ensure you remove all the dust and grime, vacuum after mopping. Then, every two to three months, restore luster and shine with water-based polishes. 

These polishes won’t release toxic fumes or leave a residue, but they will save your floor from being overcleaned and stripped. Fast drying times, minimal waxy buildup, and a protective wear layer to fill in micro-scratches and level the floor’s appearance are all characteristics of harsh, urethane-based polishes. 

Your hardwood floors need a deep cleaning once a year. Depending on the type of finish and flooring, this could mean wet or dry mopping. Take the time to go over every small corner and crevice deeply. You can rent a professional machine if you don’t have one at home. This heavy-duty machine cleans and polishes the floors, leaving them looking like new. Since these machines are expensive, renting one is the most cost-effective option.

Refinishing

Hardwood floors can be refinished to bring back their original luster and beauty. The thickness and age of the foundation have some bearing on refinishing. Refinishing could be detrimental to hardwood floors that are only 1/4 inch thick by removing the entire floor. If your floor is more than 1/4 inch thick, sanding and refinishing can restore its original beauty.

These tips will make it easier for you to keep the hardwood floors in your home looking like new. Regular maintenance, coupled with a bit of love and attention, will help you extend your floor's life and ensure it stays beautiful for many years to come. So incorporate these simple steps into your routine and watch your floors glow beautifully!

Additional Tips! 

• To keep your hardwood floor appearing new, regularly dust and clean it.

• Avoid using water, vinegar, soap-based cleaners, wax, and steam cleaners on your hardwood floor. Vinegar and water will eventually make the floor’s finish less shiny, whereas soap or wax will leave behind residue. Using heat and moisture, steam cleaners can cause cupping and long-term damage to your floor.

• In entrance ways or other high-traffic areas, use a natural rubber rug underlayment with a waffle design.

• Reduce the number of scrapes and scuffs in the wood using chair leg pads and felt floor coverings for furniture.

• Avoid wearing high heels because they can damage hardwood by gouges or scratches.

• Use a mop and a machine-washable microfiber pad to clean and dust your floor using the right equipment. Avoid using string mops; they leave a lot of water on the floor, which can be detrimental, and they only move the dirt around rather than scooping it up and getting rid of it.

• To prevent lasting stains, promptly wipe up any spills.

• Trim the nails of your pet.

• Keep the temperature and atmosphere reasonable; avoid high or low humidity.

• Avoid using oil-based polish since it can deteriorate the wood’s gloss and make the floor slick and potentially dangerous.

At Vinyl Flooring & Beyond, we always wrap up our services with meticulous hardwood floor maintenance and care. We strive to leave no visible signs of our work in your home that would make it difficult to live there. Contact us if you want more information about our service.