Hardwood floors are undoubtedly a timeless choice for your home but high-traffic areas in the home can get scratched or worn out easily. Seasonal changes can also wreak havoc by exposing your floors to excess water, salt, and dirt from the outside elements. However, the following advice provides tips that can help you ensure your hardwood floors look as good as they were when you first installed them!
Clean Up Spills Immediately
Use a slightly damp cloth or a dry one to immediately wipe up any spills and avoid wet or steam mops. Avoid using string mops on your hardwood floors as these can put excessive moisture on the floor which can cause cupping and long-term damage.
Sweep Or Dust The Floor Daily
Over time, debris can form on hardwood floors. Even if you don’t wear shoes around your home, dust still forms everywhere and can settle into the grain and between floorboards. It is a solid recommendation encouraged by many experts to sweep floors daily.
Vacuum And Clean Weekly
Weekly cleaning and vacuuming ensure that any crumbs and dirt that you may have missed while sweeping don’t scratch your flooring.
It is important to use a cleaner that is made for your floor’s material and look for pH-neutral, nontoxic, and biodegradable formulas to clean hardwood floors. Avoid using water and vinegar, wax cleaners, or soap-based cleaners. When used over time, vinegar and water can dull the floor’s finish, while soap or wax-based cleaners can leave a residue on the floors. When using a hardwood floor cleaner, make sure to always use a washable microfiber pad and avoid steam mops (this will avoid putting heat and excessive water on your floor).
Use Doormats And Carpets
Place a doormat at each entrance of your home so that visitors can wipe their feet as they come in, so you can avoid excess moisture making contact with your hardwood floors. Mats will also trap small debris and rocks that can scratch the wood flooring. In addition, we recommend putting mats in front of the kitchen sink, dishwasher, and other kitchen workstations so that you can protect your floors from water spills, food, detergent, and dropped utensils that can damage the hardwood flooring.
Use Furniture Pads
A good way to avoid scratches on wood floors is to add furniture pads to the legs of your chairs, tables, sofas, and other furniture. In addition, when you use rugs you can protect your floors from regular wear and tear where people and pets walk regularly. Furniture can also leave deep scratches on hardwood floors and using rugs can give you a barrier between furniture and the floor. If you are rearranging furniture or moving a piece to clean underneath it make sure to use furniture sliders. In doing so, when you move things they will protect your floors and avoid causing scratches caused by moving heavy objects directly over the wood floors.
Humidity And Light
Recommended optimal humidity levels are around 45% to protect the floor from cupping and splitting; use a hygrometer (relative humidity indicator) to make sure that the air moisture content is within the recommended range. In addition, avoid exposing your floors to direct sunlight as this can cause the wood to change its colour.
Our team of flooring experts has been in this industry for decades and will offer you the best flooring options for your needs. If you are looking for a hardwood floor that will elevate the mood and appearance of your home then contact Smith Bros Floors today!