Hardwood flooring has always been a highly sought-after home investment. This timeless classic upgrade is a phenomenal way to enhance your home’s character and design. With many different kinds of wood, planking, widths, and sizes available, there is always a perfect hardwood flooring solution for any space. Hardwood flooring has a level of elegance in its raw, natural design yet encapsulates a sophisticated element as well. If you invest in hardwood flooring, you will want to make sure you get the most time out of your purchase. We put together all the do’s and don’t’s components to maintaining your hardwood flooring for a longer lifetime and getting the most value out of your investment. Let’s take a look!
Do Sweep
Your floor will collect dust and dirt over time. Dusting and sweeping are essential ways to make sure your floors stay healthy and clean. If you allow dirt to contaminate your flooring continually, you enable potential micro-scratching and damage to the boards. Remember to broom at least twice a week to add to the longevity and lifetime of your floors.
Do Not Using Excess Water
Water and wood do not mix well. Hardwood flooring will absorb large amounts of water and damage the product; however, mopping your floors is advised, but excess water can cause your hardwood floor to warp. It is better to very lightly mist the floor when mopping or use a wet-broom with a light spray to clean your flooring. You want to make sure that your floors are completely dry when you are finished.
Do Polish
Polishing your floors is a great maintenance habit. You should try to polish your hardwood quarterly if not once a month. This is great for your hardwood flooring. Polishing will help renew and protect the finish of your flooring. It is just like waxing a car to protect the paint. It allows your wood to have a layer filling in the micro scratches as well as a sealant to prevent any further damage.
Do Not Use a Beater Bar Vacuum
Vacuums can damage your hardwood floor. Be cognitive of the wheels and the beater bars on the vacuum because these can cause damage. If you need to vacuum, raise your beater bar all the way up and be extremely cognitive of the wheels. The wheels can hide dirt and dust and cause damage by rolling on the floor.
Do Sand and Refinish
The great thing about hardwood floors is they can be sanded and refinished time and time again. Sanding your hardwood will eliminate any surface damage and allow you to have a fresh, clean start. This will make your flooring look just as great as the day they were installed. Be cognitive that this can only be done so many times until you reach the tongue and groove on each plank. This should only be done every three to five years.
Maintaining clean and healthy hardwood flooring is key to the longevity of the product. Note that there are many diverse species of woods and they all have different levels of scratch resistance and density. Ask your sales representative for more tips and tricks for maintaining your hardwood floors.
*Disclaimer: Always check with your flooring manufacturer before proceeding with any cleaning or maintenance. Flooring can vary and it is important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for best results.
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