10 Tips For Taking Care Of Your Hardwood Flooring
A beautiful hardwood floor can be the pride of any home, offering prestige and character, but for many people it is a challenge to keep their hardwood flooring looking as healthy as it did the day it was installed. That’s why we have put together our top 10 tips for keeping your wood floors looking reliable and attractive in your home.
Don’t Slide Furniture
Whenever we move our furniture it always seems easier to slide things around, this is especially true on wood flooring as it makes it smoother and quicker to change the furniture round. This can be avoided by lifting, protecting your floor from scratches and scuffs which are unsightly and spoil the unique look.
Use Felt Pads On Feet Of Furniture
Felt pads are cheap to buy and easy to apply, put them on the feet of all your furniture to stop general wear and tear when the furniture is nudged, pushed or dragged on your floor.
No Heavy Mopping
Tempting though it may be, you should avoid heavy mopping of your wood floor. Use a minimal amount of water – preferably a damp cloth or mop – to ensure you can still clean but that there isn’t moisture soaking into the cracks or pooling on the surface.
No High Heels
If you’re the kind of person who likes to keep footwear on indoors then at least outlaw one piece of footwear – high heels. The heels, especially stilettoes, put all the pressure on the one pointed element meaning it’s easy to leave dents and impressions that will damage your floors.
No Grit/Mud
The one thing you don’t want to let into your home is grit, followed closely by mud. These substances can easily wear and scratch your hardwood flooring over time, they grind away in crevices and are travelled by feet until your floors become unrecognisable.
Use No-Wax Wood Floor Cleaner
A no-wax floor cleaner should be kept handy at all times, it helps to protect the floor and means you can avoid using liquid based products which would be soaked into your flooring. Whether you’re cleaning up moisture or mud, always use a no-wax product.
Use Large Doormats/Rugs
At the entrance points to your home you can place large mats or rugs, these extra long door mats reduce the amount of shoe-based traffic your hardwood floor sees. This way you can ensure that people either take off their footwear or that their feet are relatively clean before they walk on your floors.
Avoid Moisture
We’ve already talked about moisture from cleaning but it’s worth repeating that moisture should be avoided at all costs. This includes spilt liquids and rainwater if your floors are exposed when doors are open. Liquids can penetrate into your hardwood flooring and leave a stain if not dealt with quickly.
Sweep Regularly With Soft Broom
If you like to regularly clean your floors then it might be worth investing in a soft broom, this way you can sweep the floor and maintain it whenever you like without scratching or marking it, as you might with a hard bristled brush.
Avoid Prolonged Sunlight Exposure
We all love the feel of warm sunshine pouring in through the window but your hardwood floor will definitely not appreciate prolonged exposure to sunlight. Sun damage will cause fading and discolouring in patches but you can protect it by simply installing blinds, this will allow you to let light into a room without excessive UV rays hitting your hardwood floor.
To learn more about how maintenance and protection can keep your wood floors healthy then don’t hesitate to contact Pyramid Carpets. We are experts when it comes to all manner of flooring and will happily pass on our knowledge to your when fitting your new hardwood floor.