Hints & Tips

Hardwood Flooring: How You Can Clean & Maintain it

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve had a hardwood floor for some time or you’ve only recently had one installed, cleaning and preserving it is always important. By taking the necessary steps to properly maintain your hardwood flooring, you’ll ensure it lasts as long as possible, and continues looking as aesthetically pleasing as it did when it was first installed.

The constant wear and tear of daily life can of course affect your flooring, so it’s essential that you know how best to protect and clean your hardwood floor, to keep it looking as fresh as possible for far longer…

Know your floor’s finish

Any wooden flooring can have one of a range of finishes, and this can have an affect on the way you approach cleaning it. The surface sealed finish, which it has received, really will impact the way you approach cleaning. So having an understanding of what protective layer is over the top of the floor is very helpful. You can find out all you need to know, simply by contacting your supplier.

Don’t overdo things with water

Generally speaking, when cleaning hardwood flooring, it’s best to avoid using excessive amounts of water. Although many types of flooring are water resistant, hardwood floors are not and so you should steer clear of using water unless you’re certain the wooden floor is suitable for this kind of clean. 

Unfortunately wooden flooring has a tendency to absorb water, which can cause it to swell, expand and then crack when too much water is absorbed. So, it’s essential that you know the water resistance of your flooring before cleaning with it. 

Make sure to use the right type of cleaner

Going back to the first point – once you know the finish that was applied to your flooring, this will help you choose cleaning products that are the most suitable. For example, it will be perfectly fine to use a mop with soap and water on water resistant flooring. However, it’s likely that your hardwood flooring is not water resistant, so you’ll need to make use of special products for oil treated floors.

Sweep and buff your flooring

Sweeping your flooring works wonders for removing little bits of dust, dirt and debris. Of course, ensure that you use soft bristles to avoid causing scratching to the surface of your flooring. Vacuum cleaners also work well for getting rid of dirt in hard to reach places, without causing any damage to your floor. Also, don’t be afraid to buff your floors, as this can help to make them look fresher and brighter. Just make sure you choose the right kind of buffer and solution for your flooring.

For any more information on hardwood flooring or any other products we provide, please get in touch today!

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