Tips on how to maintain your wood floors
Posted by Aaron Schaalma
Maintaining anything is a great way to keep things looking great! Wood floors are no different. So whether your floors have just been finished or you are looking on how to maintain them we will give you a few tips on how to get the most out of your floors.
Sweep or Swiffer
Keeping grit and other debris off the floor is important in keeping your floor looking in top condition. If you allow dirt and debris to build up on the floor, it will begin to grind into the floor and can scratch the finish and wear it down over time. To prevent this, you want to sweep or swiffer the floor based upon how much traffic your floor gets.
Cleaning
First off you'll need to know what type of finish you have on your wood floors. Different types of finish have a large impact as to what type of cleaner you should use. If its a film finish you should use a neutral PH hardwood floor cleaner. If you have a penetrating or hardwax oil use the recommended cleaner from the manufacturer. Cleaning the floor will remove dirt and surface stains and renew the shine and luster of your floor.
Indoor Climate
You may be thinking what does indoor climate have to do with maintaining my wood floors? So, your hardwood flooring was once a living thing, and after it is turned into wood flooring, even though it is not growing it is still affected by temperature and humidity. Keeping the temperature between 65-75 degrees all year round along with RH(Relative Humidity) of 35-50% year round will help your floor perform at its best!
I hear from many wood flooring professionals that they don't like the use of rugs on hardwood floors. However, the right type of rugs, placed in high traffic areas can help prevent unnecessary wear to your hardwood floors. A couple of key areas for rugs are by the sink, dishwasher, and exterior doors. These places tend to have more moisture and are also higher traffic areas. Here is a good article we wrote about choosing the right type of rug for your floors.
This is a service we offer that cleans the floor with a special machine. The machine applies cleaning solution and then has a cleaning brush that cleans the finish. The built in vacuum removes any of the moisture thats left, giving you a floor that is clean. This option is great for older floors that are in great condition, but just need a deep clean to bring them back to life.
Contacting a professional to re-coat your hardwood floors can add years to the life of your floor. What we do is come in and clean the floor with a special cleaner, lightly abraid the floor and then apply a new coat of finish. This will take care of any scratches in the surface of the floor, and will add years of life to the floor by adding more protection.
Taking these steps will help to ensure the longevity of your hardwood floors and protect your investment. If you are unsure about your floors, or have any questions on how to take care of your hardwood floors, contact us, we'd love to help you out.
