Wooden flooring brings a unique charm to a home. It’s a classic choice among homeowners and designers who love warm and elegant interiors. It’s also a go-to option for boosting a property’s value.
Wooden floors are durable and long-lasting, especially those made with hardwood, like oak, mahogany, and walnut. However, despite their resilience, these materials require proper care to maintain their beauty and function and maximize their lifespan.
Here are some dos and don’ts of wooden flooring Maintenance:
Dos for Maintaining Wooden Flooring
Wooden floors are durable yet delicate. Wood requires extra caution to avoid damage, unlike other flooring materials such as concrete, stone, and tiles. Here are the following tips for maintaining wooden floors:
Clean Up Spills Immediately
Finished wooden flooring can be moisture-resistant. However, prolonged exposure to liquid can cause permanent stains and warping, which makes an immediate cleanup necessary. If you have pets or have wooden flooring in the kitchen, always prepare a microfiber cloth or mop for a quick wipe.
Moreover, suppliers for Wooden Floors provide specific instructions. Following the manufacturer’s guide to cleaning and maintenance can help prolong the lifespan of your wooden flooring.
Use A Dry Mop
Liquid and moisture are the main culprits of premature damage to wooden floors. A dry mop helps wipe spills and remove dust and debris that may cause tiny abrasion to these delicate surfaces.
Dry mopping is one of the best ways to keep your wooden floors neat and shiny. You may use microfiber mops to avoid scratches and absorb any liquid or moisture on the surface.
Add Rugs on Entryways
Maintaining your wooden flooring involves adding features to minimize the risk of scratches. Adding rugs on entryways and corridors helps keep dust and debris at bay, keeping the floors clean and shiny.
Aside from adding protection to your wooden floors, rugs can provide another safety layer for high-traffic areas. Since finished wood can be slippery, placing rugs in busy spaces makes interiors comfier and more efficient.
Install Furniture Pads
Wooden floors are prone to scratches due to moving furniture. Installing furniture pads helps prevent this issue, especially when rearranging the room’s layout.
Using furniture pads helps prevent permanent marks and scratches on the floors while protecting heavy pieces from damage. However, it’s still best to lift the furniture when moving instead of dragging it to mitigate the risk of abrasions.
Protect from Sun Exposure
Frequent direct exposure to sunlight can darken or fade your wooden floors over time. While natural light is essential to home interiors, softening is necessary to protect your wooden flooring.
Installing window treatments, like blinds and curtains, can soften the sunlight entering the home. Upgrading your windows with double or triple-glazed panels can also help keep heat at bay. Placing rugs for spots that require sunlight, especially if you have plants, can help protect your wooden floors from sun damage.
Re-Sand and Reseal
One of the benefits of having wooden floors is the opportunity to restore them in case of damage. Experts recommend refinishing wooden flooring every 7-10 years to refurbish its look.
Depending on its thickness, you can refinish hardwood flooring up to six times. In case of water damage, you can still sand it down to even out the warped surfaces and reseal it to make it look brand new.
Don’ts for Maintaining Wooden Flooring
There are flooring maintenance tips that work for other materials but are damaging to wood. Knowing what to avoid helps keep your wooden floors functional and beautiful for longer.
Use All-Purpose Cleaning Solutions
All-purpose cleaning solutions can damage wooden floors. Aside from the harsh chemical content, liquid can seep into the wood and cause warping. Likewise, the typical water and detergent solution can also cause discoloration.
Instead of using all-purpose cleaners, opt for specific wood cleaning solutions. It’s also best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to maximize the material’s lifespan.
Remove Stain with Harsh Cleaning Tools
Removing stains from wooden floors requires patience and extra caution. Avoid using brushes, especially those with stiff, abrasive bristles. Instead, use a microfiber cloth, cotton rag, or sponge.
One way to remove stains from wooden floors is by gently rubbing a cloth or sponge dipped into baking soda and vinegar mixture. For stubborn stains or discoloration, it’s best to call professionals for proper restoration.
Clean With A Wet Mop
Wet mopping is one of the common mistakes in cleaning wooden floors. The excess liquid can damage the sealant and seep into the wood, leading to warping and discoloration.
Using a dry or damp mop is enough to clear dust from wooden floors. You can also clean the surfaces using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to prevent scratches.
Drag Furniture
Dragging furniture on wooden floors can cause scratches. While moving these pieces is inevitable, particularly during move-in or room furnishing, there are safety precautions you can follow.
As mentioned, using protective pads can protect your wooden floors from scratches. However, lifting instead of dragging is still the safest option.
Expose to High Humidity
Although hardwood can resist moisture, frequent exposure to high humidity can cause premature damage. Therefore, controlling humidity levels in your home is crucial to maintaining wooden floors.
Due to wood’s porosity, high humidity can lead to warping. If you have wooden floors in moisture-prone areas like kitchens and entryways, it’s best to place a rug to absorb excess moisture.
Conclusion
Wooden floors are more delicate than other materials. However, following proper care instructions can maximize their beauty and durability. Knowing the dos and don’ts of wooden flooring maintenance lets you enjoy the warmth and elegance it brings to your home for decades.
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