You’ve created this beautiful home and designed/bought it with specific intentions.? One of those being beautiful functional flooring that lasts.? Naturally your floors will take a lot of the abuse in your home over the years, but by practicing these simple steps*, you will ensure the longevity and beauty of your hardwood.
- Monthly Schedule ? Polish
- Polishing your floor every few months is a great way to clean hardwood flooring. Polishing renews and refreshes the finish that protects your hardwood floor. With floors that have some kind of protective sealant, it is the finish that is getting the most attention when we clean?not the actual hardwood. Polishing your floor fills in microscopic scratches and evens out a floor?s protective surface. Polishing a hardwood floor is not a difficult task and can be done with a minimal amount of effort. You can even use the best steam mop for hardwood floors to bring excellent results without all of the elbow grease.
- Yearly Schedule ? Deep Clean
- With all the abuse we put on our hardwood floors, consider giving your floor a deep clean or a sand and refinish every 3-5 years. Sanding and refinishing your floor completely removes the old protective finish and replaces it. If your floor has some deep scratches or gouges, sanding and refinishing can repair this damage, leaving you with immaculately clean hardwood flooring.
- Other Considerations
- Here are some extra tips that will lead you on the best way to clean hardwood flooring: ? Use Mats. Place mats or rugs at entryways or other traffic areas to minimize the amount of dirt and debris that gets onto your floors. Make sure the protective coverings you use are designed for wood floors. Some rubber-backed mats can trap moisture, damaging floors in the process. If you don’t have any rugs to protect your floor then you can buy designer rugs here: https://bazaarvelvet.com/. ? Things to Avoid. Avoid using water and vinegar, soap-based cleaners, wax or steam cleaners on your hardwood floors. Vinegar and water actually dull the floor?s finish over time, while soap and wax leave residue. Steam cleaners put heat and excessive water on your floor, which can lead to cupping and long-term damage. ? Traffic Concerns. As you come up with your maintenance routine, remember that the overall use of your floors will dictate how often you need to clean. High-traffic areas may need to be mopped or polished more often, while less-frequented floors can go a bit longer between more intense cleanings.
