Tips For Cleaning Hardwood Floors

The most important cleaning tip for hardwood is preventative maintenance. By cleaning your floors regularly and sweeping or vacuuming dirt and debris, you will save yourself a lot of time and expense in the long run. Wipe up any spills as soon as they occur. Although you will not have an instant stain when you spill on hardwood floor as you do with carpet, you may expose your hardwood to staining if you do not wipe up spills in a timely fashion.

Hardwood is one of the best materials for home flooring because of it's elegance, beauty and durability. Homes with hardwood floors are often considered to have class and style that definitely create an impression of refinement and even affluence.

Clean the floor

Vacuum up dust; wipe using clear water if necessary to get it all up and then wash with a wood floor cleaner. The most important part of this step is to let the floors dry after they are cleaned — ideally two days and possibly longer. If there is moisture in the floors when you paint them, the primer and everything on top of it is likely to bubble up.

Vacuum Rugs

Your rugs and carpets can have dirt and also other damaging substances. To make sure that your hardwood is clean from it, you will need to vacuum the area rugs regularly too. It will remove all dirt and bacteria under the rugs ruining your hardwood floor.

Clean scuffs and heel marks

The best way to repair general wear and tear is to apply a cleaner specifically designed for hardwood floors about once a week. This way, you don’t run the risk of accidentally damaging the finish or color of your floor when you clean it.

Avoid certain cleaning products

Wood floors can be damaged by things like silicone-based polish, oil, wax and ammonia. Most cleaning products specifically designed for hardwood floors won’t have these ingredients, but double check the label to be sure.

Refinishing

If your floor has become really worn down or damaged, refinishing it will restore its original shine. However, this is a laborious and expensive process that involves a lot of sanding, staining and drying time.

Liquids And Residue

Water is great for you but terrible for your hardwood floors. It will ruin your floor's finish and may even penetrate the wood itself and stain it. Wipe up any water immediately and keep your windows closed during rainfall. Keep trays under your potted plants, also, to ensure that they don't drain onto your floors.