How To Properly Clean And Care For Your Hardwood Floors

Discovering Key Facts About Your Hardwood Floors

Solid wood floors form from a single piece of quality timber like Walnut or Oak. Due to their superior durability and strength, solid wood floors look amazing and stay strong against the test of time. Moreover, the elegant and classy look of the natural wood floors has enticed homeowners for years.

Now, the thing about the natural wood floors is that they are durable enough to stay put for decades. But it helps if you maintain them well. After all, we want our hardwood floors to look great down the road. And that means learning some easy-to-follow tips on how to do it. It’s always exciting choosing which type of wood flooring we want. And once you do, it’s a lifetime commitment.

Over time, our floors can look dingy and dull. At that point, you would need to spend a small fortune refinishing and recoating. And just like any other thing in our homes, it requires some looking after and maintenance. But, as you know, no two floors are alike, which is a good thing. Did you know the Janka hardness test determines the hardness of the wood? And it measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear.

Typically, wood floors will change color over time, and that’s ok. Plus, choosing them is smarter greener, which means it’s better for the environment. But did you know that your wood floors can last a lifetime with proper care? Let’s find out more for sure! Below, you’ll discover some tips to help you take better care of your natural wood floors.

1 – Clean All Spillage Immediately

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Use a slightly damp or dry cloth to wipe away anything spilled promptly. Remember to avoid steam or wet mops because they will cause more harm over time. As wood shrinks and swells based on moisture present on it and in the surroundings. Therefore, it’s good to keep the humidity level down to prevent gapping, splitting, and cupping of the wood.

The best thing you can do in this case is to clean the spills immediately after they occur. It is better to keep the room temperature around sixty- and eighty degrees Fahrenheit, with the humidity level between thirty and fifty

2 – Make Sure To Dust Or Sweep Daily

Daily dusting or sweeping might seem like too much work, but you would love the fresh look of your floors due to this. Unfortunately, dust will form everywhere, even with the no-wet-shoes rule in the house. Dust settles between floorboards and in the grain. And if you are a pet parent and your furry friends keep on shedding, it is also a hygiene issue to consider.

One of the most highly recommended tools for mopping hardwood floors is the Swiffer WetJet Hardwood and Floor Spray Starter Kit. After years of use, I can attest to how easy it is to use and how effectively it works. Using the Swiffer makes mopping your hardwood floors so easy!

But, of course, I always have a backup mop that’s always a top favorite. You can find it on Amazon and called the Turbo Microfiber Mop Floor Cleaning System. And wow, you never need to purchase floor pads as this comes with reusable, washable microfiber pads. It also comes with scrubber pads for those hard-to-clean messes. And more so, it picks up dirt, dust, pet hair, and other debris, these mops for floor cleaning know how to make a clean sweep around the home, apartment, dorm, office, and more!

3 – Remember To Vacuum Once A Week (If Not More)

Let’s face it—no one likes cleaning, especially when it comes to our floors. But, while weekly vacuuming might seem painful, it’s a surefire way to keep your hardwood floors and rugs in great shape. I love using the Dyson Cyclone V10 Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner for my home. I have two of them, one for each floor!

Or, if you are super busy, try the ever-popular iRobot Roomba. With over 75k 5-star reviews, you know it’s a shopper’s favorite. Weekly vacuuming keeps our home clean and healthier too. And doing so ensures any dirt and crumbs you missed at the time of sweeping does not scratch the floors afterward. Conversely, you can always hire professional cleaners to pass on the responsibility.

4 – Protect Your Hardwood Floors From Excess Sunlight

Excess sunlight might make hardwood floors fade and discolor over time. Therefore, you need to make sure your floors receive too much direct sunlight. Blinds are a good solution in this regard. While they serve their function, they also adequately shade them. More importantly, keep your window treatments drawn during the hottest part of the day. Doing so will limit the amount of sunlight directly hitting your floors.

5 – Prevent Scratches In Natural Solid Wood Floors

Any natural solid wood flooring is vulnerable to scratches. While some people believe that the scratches add character to the floors, others prevent marks. Here are the simple steps to help you keep the scratches on your solid wood floor under control.

Take Precaution

Taking precautions is particularly crucial while cleaning. Steer clear of abrasive materials like scouring pads and steel wool. Pay special attention while using the hoover because debris might stick to the wheels leading to accidental scratches at the time of use. Our advice is to use microfiber mops (commonly known as spray mops) to avoid unnecessary damage.

Removal Of Risk Factors

Pet claws and high heels are two of the most important reasons behind the scratches on solid wood floors. So, keep the nails of your furry friends trimmed and ask guests to remove those high heels and shoes to keep scratches away.

Additional Protection

Good quality felt pads are an affordable way of lessening the impact of your furniture on solid wood floors. It prevents accidental damage or friction buildup while moving. Also, doormats help prevent extra debris or dirt from dragging across the floors.

Use Quality Wooden Flooring Wax

The right kind of wooden flooring wax lessens the appearance of scratches or scuffs, along with giving your floor extra protection. Try using Rejuvenate All Floors Restorer and Polish to keep your hardwood floors protected and shiny. Plus, it fills In scratches and restores shine to wood floors and all flooring types. And it works On hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile, linoleum, terracotta, and more!

6 – Understand Room Suitability For Hardwood Floors

Though solid hardwood wood floors look good at any place, they are more suitable in some rooms rather than others. More so, this is because the floors made from 100% natural solid wood tend to outperform the rivals on longevity, strength, and density. In addition, solid wood copes well under pressure. Thus, it can seem like a good fit for areas frequented the most by people, such as stairs, hallways, living areas, and bedrooms.

However, you need to avoid using solid natural wood in areas of excess humidity, moisture, or temperature fluctuation. For instance, it is better to have engineered wood in kitchens instead of natural wood because it is better at handling moisture and temperature changes. If you have your heart set on getting natural solid wood floors in kitchens, you will have to clean the spills quickly.

7 – Use A Good Wooden Floor Cleaner Every Month

There are several good wooden floor cleaners available in the market. You can choose any one of them to clean your floor every month. Make sure to read the instructions on the cleaner’s label before proceeding with its use. As we mentioned above, we highly recommend using Rejuvenate All Floors Restorer and Polish to keep your hardwood floors protected and shiny.

8 – Refinish Your Floor Every Three To Five Years

Over time, your solid wood floors will start looking a bit dull. However, you can renew them by refinishing. All you need to do is apply a new layer of wooden floor polish. Refinishing the floor every three to five years would suffice. However, you can do it more often based on your family’s lifestyle or the footfall in your home. More so, it’s a good idea to hire professionals to refinish the solid wood floor instead of doing it yourself, to get a better appearance

And that’s all you need to know about taking good care of your precious natural wood floors. Under proper care and maintenance, your hardwood floors would retain their look and shine for years. So, go ahead and start working on those floors right away.

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