Hardwood flooring is a lot more than just a surface of ground under your feet. They are an elegant addition to any home or space, giving you warmth and appeal. Not only that, they are extremely durable when taken care of in the right way. To preserve the appeal of hardwood, it’s essential to maintain and learn how to clean hardwood flooring the right way. Regular maintenance retains shine and extends the lifespan of your floors, making them a worthwhile investment. In this guide, we’ll go over the steps to keeping your hardwood floors in pristine condition for years to come.
Regular Hardwood Floor Cleaning and Maintenance
Hardwood floors may seem to be intimidating with how fast they can become dull or dirty. However, cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors can be easy when you do it on a regular basis. Adding it into your routine will only lengthen the life of your floors. Dust, grime, and debris can accumulate fast on hardwood floors, giving a dull look to your finish, and can even scratch the surface. Here are a few steps to regularly keep them clean:
Frequent Dust Mopping
The first step in preserving the life and shine of your hardwood floors is to frequently dust them. The easiest way to dust them is to use a dust mop. Adding a soft dust mop into your routine removes surface dust and debris without scratching the surface of the floors. It brings back the shine to your flooring in a fast and easy way, you should do this at least a few times a week.
Deep Clean
Dust mopping is extremely easy and fast, so the next step is deep cleaning. This should be done at least once a week, so you’ll treat your floors to thorough cleaning. Hardwood floors require a lot more than just using soapy water. Make sure that you do research to find a cleaner that will work best for the specific hardwood floors that you have in your home. Follow the instructions on the cleaner, ensuring that your floors don’t become overly wet, as that may damage them.
Consistency
As with everything, consistency is key. Lightly and deeply cleaning your floors on a regular basis will only show off your floors in the best way. When you spend the money to have hardwood floors in your home, having them last and look as beautiful as the day you got them is essential.
Effective Hardwood Cleaning Techniques for Stains/Spills
Hardwood floors will deal with a lot with everyday use and war and tear. From spills to muddy footprints to scratches and abrasions, your floors take a hit whether you can see it or not. The key to dealing with this is to take action immediately when something happens. If a cup of water spills all over the floor’s surface, don’t sit and let it soak into the floor; cleaning it as soon as possible prevents additional damage.
No flooring option is immune to surface spills or damage. But the key is gentle yet effective cleaning. Using soft brooms or mops will prevent unwanted scratches. There are always cleaning solutions made just for hardwood floors, so using those options will be an easy option to remove spills or stains without harming the surface of the wood. Again, the sooner you take control of spills or stains, the less likely they are to seep into the wood itself, causing damage. By following these steps and tips, you will keep your hardwood floors in the best condition that they can be, adding to their lifespan.
Preventative Measures/Tips To Keep Your Floor Clean
Preventative measures play a large role in preserving your hardwood floors. Placing rugs or floor mats throughout the area, especially around a sink or any other area around water can prevent moisture from being tracked or spilled on the floor’s surface. Avoiding walking around in shoes that have a harder sole (high heels) highly reduces the risk of dents or scratches, especially damage to the finish. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can also damage the surface of your hardwood and cause discoloration or fading. Investing in blinds and curtains can minimize this exposure to the elements. Lastly, keep your floors dry. Hardwood flooring is never meant to be wet in any capacity. Wipe up any spills immediately, and when cleaning the floors, use as little water as possible. Blotting any spills with a soft towel or cloth will also prevent liquid from seeping into the wood, causing warps or stains.
By implementing these measures and tips into your hardwood floor care, you will maintain the shine of your floors, making them last much longer, and avoid costly repairs that could break the bank.
Importance of Immediate Action With Spills
As we stated previously, taking immediate action when a spill occurs on your hardwood floors is essential for preserving its lifespan. Liquids can quickly seep into the inner surfaces of your floors, leading to stains or even warping. If your floors warp, it does not look that great to the eye and also people can easily trip and injure themselves, no one wants that in their home. Blot spills only and avoid rubbing. Rubbing can spread liquid to more surface areas of the floor and cause further damage on the wood. For sticky spills, a damp cloth or towel with mild soap can be extremely helpful in removal.
Advanced Care
Beyond just regular cleaning, your hardwood floors will require more advanced floor cleaning every so often. This includes professional style cleaning, polishing, or even refinishing work. Adding in advanced care to your hardwood flooring cleaning routine restores shine and brings them back to life in the best way. It’s advised to ask a professional for help before trying to polish or refinish your floors yourself. That’s why at Barefoot Flooring, our experts have all the answers to the questions or concerns you may have.
Embrace Your New Hardwood Floor Cleaning Routine
Overall, the upkeep of your hardwood floors demands consistent cleaning and care. By integrating these steps provided in this guide into your routine, you can be ensured that your floors will keep their shine for years to come. Don’t be intimidated by needing the help of a professional when refinishing is needed. Your hardwood floors are an investment, which is why they should be taken care of to last a lifetime. Contact Barefoot Flooring for any additional information and questions regarding your hardwood floors today.