When it comes to flooring, nothing is more chic or timeless than hardwood floors. However, they can be a bit of a hassle to maintain. If you aren’t careful, you could end up damaging your floors with some common maintenance mistakes. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! Here are some tips that will help you keep your hardwood floors looking their best without risking any damage.
Recognize the warning signs
Knowing how to clean hardwood floors isn’t the only thing to consider when it comes to immaculate wood flooring. The environment that surrounds your floor is also a big component of their care and durability. Wood reacts dramatically to temperature and humidity, so it’s important to understand these elements too, even if they’re out of your control. Your best line of defense is being aware of red flags. “The nice thing about wood is that it’s a natural product, so it’ll tell you if it’s not happy,” Brett explains.
If there’s too much moisture on, around, or below the wood, it will cup. Eliminate the source of the water, especially any standing water, to stop this from occurring. Exceedingly dry conditions induce gapping, cracking, and splitting. Here, a humidifier should do the trick. “Adding a little moisture to the air will allow your floor to settle back down. It’ll make it happy again,” Brett says. Source: ArchitecturalDigest
Invest in furniture pads
Scratches are some of the toughest problems to solve in wood floors. While some scratches are inevitable, others are definitely preventable. One of the best ways to prevent them is to add furniture pads to the legs of your chairs, sofas, tables, etc. Source: HouseBeautiful
Do a deep clean
The best way to clean hardwood floors starts with preventive measures and routine cleaning, but sometimes a deeper clean is in order. Dirt, oil, and grime build up over time and aren’t completely removed by a weekly dusting.
For how to deep clean hardwood floors (consider doing this cleaning in the spring or just before the winter holidays), use a wood floor mop and wood floor cleaning product diluted according to the label instructions. Saturate a sponge or rag mop in the water, then wring it almost dry so it feels only slightly damp to the touch. Damp-mop the floor, being careful to prevent standing water on the floor. If the cleaning product requires it, rinse the surface with a clean mop dampened in clean water. Wipe up excess liquid immediately because standing water can damage wood surfaces. If the weather is humid, operate a ceiling fan or the air-conditioner to speed up drying. If cleaning isn’t cutting it, you might need to refinish the wood floors to help them look new. Source: BHG
Do you have chipped hardwood floors at home? Don’t worry. We got you covered! Call us today for a free estimate!