How to Extend the Life of Your Hardwood Floors
So, you’ve finally upgraded the look of your house with beautiful hardwood floors and you couldn’t be more thrilled! Hardwood flooring is not only attractive, but durable, long-lasting, and a great option for families with young children and pets. Now the question is, how do you keep those sparkling new floors looking as gorgeous as day one? Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to extend the life of your hardwood floors. Let’s take a quick look at the do’s and dont’s of hardwood maintenance.
The Do’s
1. Use Rugs and Doormats
Use a sweeper, duster, mop, or vacuum to remove dirt and footprints daily. Keep in mind, some vacuum cleaner bristles may be too abrasive and can scratch the floor.
This is particularly important in entryways and high traffic areas where dirt and sand can seep into your new floors. Rugs and doormats will also prevent the hardwood from dulling in its early years.
2. Sweep Daily
Use a sweeper, duster, or vacuum to remove dirt and footprints. Use a slightly dampened mop, or try Bona Premium Spray Mop for Hardwood Floors if needed. Frequent sweeping will cut down on more intense cleaning sessions later.
3. Wash Weekly/Bi-Weekly
Clean your floors routinely using a diluted solution of a natural soap or wash, such as Bona Free & Simple Hardwood Floor Cleaner. To start, dampen a mop with the solution or spray lightly on the floor. Then, wipe with a soft cloth until completely dry.
4. Wax/Oil Annually
Refresh your hardwood floors and make them shine with Bona Floor Polish. Although dull marks and stains are expected to occur, use of Bona products can help eliminate most imperfections.
5. Refinish the Hardwood
Dustless sanding, or dustless refinishing, is a simple and effective way to bring your hardwood floors back to life. At Elite Hardwood Flooring, we use a Dust Containment System, by Bona. Overall, it’s an effective way to protect the health of your home and get rid of the nightmare of dust. Other benefits of dustless refinishing include the following:
- Cost effective
- Eco-friendly
- Helps maintain your home’s character
- Turns back time
… And the Don’ts
1. Use the Wrong Cleaners
Avoid abrasive cleaners like ammonia and alkaline products that can dull or scratch the finish. Stay away from lemon juice or vinegar which can also damage the floor’s seal. Further, to avoid a slippery floor, avoid oil-based cleaners.
2. Apply Too Much Liquid
Because wood floors are porous, they absorb moisture which can cause the wood to discolor or buckle. While mopping or cleaning use either a dry or slightly damp mop, never a saturated one. Be sure to clean up spills quickly and thoroughly. And never let the floors air dry. Also, avoid leaving wet towels on the floor.
3. Use Certain Vacuums
If your vacuum has the ability turn off the rotating brushes then you can vacuum your wood floors with the brushes off. Otherwise, the bristles may be too abrasive and can scratch the floor.
4. Forget the Do’s
The most common mistake we see is not performing regular maintenance on your wood floors. As well as regular cleaning, it is important to repair scratched or damaged floor boards as soon as possible to prevent damage to other floorboards. This will inevitably save you money over the long-term.
Elite Hardwood Flooring Can Help
Installing hardwood flooring in the home is often a substantial investment. So, you could say it “pays” to protect that investment with routine maintenance and cleaning.
Got a question? Call on Elite Hardwood Flooring in Annapolis and let us know how we can help. We’re the certified wood flooring professionals that you can count on! We provide expert installation, dustless sanding, and finishing services for homeowners all throughout Maryland. Schedule an appointment today. Or, give us a call at (410) 280-1420 to view our hardwoods and services.
