Hardwood floors are an attractive, stylish and elegant way to furnish your home. Over the years, they have become the most coveted style of floor and are mainly associated with high-end properties. While their beauty and style might entice you to add them to your space, they also come with high maintenance requirements. Hardwood floors are very delicate and require proper care to keep them looking great for a long. The good news is with proper care, hardwood floors can withstand all kinds of traffic and last a lifetime. Here are some ways to care for hardwood floors.
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Dust Daily
Dust is one of the biggest enemies of hardwood floors. It settles on the floorboards and in the grains making them look dull. This takes away one of the main functions of hardwood floors which is their aesthetics. Additionally, dust can be a health hazard if it builds up over time. Whether you see the dust or not, you should maintain a daily dusting routine. Using a clean, dry soft cloth is the best way to remove the dust since it won’t spread into the air and the cloth is gentle on your delicate floors.
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Use Wood Floor Cleaner Monthly
At times, we can get carried away when it comes to cleaning hardwood floors. However, it’s important to know how to clean them properly to avoid damaging them. You should only use floor cleaners once a month as part of your deep cleaning routine. This is because it contains chemicals that are used to remove dirt and stains. If used regularly, the harsh chemicals could damage the wood. Additionally, you should also use the cleaner sparingly and clean one section at a time.
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Avoid Wearing High Heels On Hardwood Floors
If you have hardwood floors in your home, then you should have a no-shoe policy and certainly a no-high-heels policy. High heels are guaranteed to scratch and damage your floors due to their sharp heel. However, any shoes that have a rough bottom can damage the floor. Ensure that people don’t walk around with dirty shoes. You can place house slippers at the entrance so people can wear them inside the house. This also prevents dust from coming in.
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Clean Any Spills Immediately
Liquids are another enemy of hardwood floors and they can quickly ruin your beautiful floors. Therefore, you should always clean any spill immediately after they happen. This is why most people hesitate to put hardwood floors in their kitchen since the area is prone to constant water spills and which might ruin the floor. Additionally, when cleaning, you should use a damp mop, not a wet one. A microfiber mop is the best for this type of floor since it uses 20 times less liquid than others. This ensures that your floor is dry all the time.
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Know The Warning Signs
Hardwood floors react dramatically to their environment and they have a few warning signs that should let you know when something is wrong. For instance, if the environment is too dry, the wood will crack and have gaps. If there’s too much moisture in the air or below the wood, it will swell. You can solve such problems by eliminating the source of water or adding a little moisture using a humidifier. These solutions could save you a lot of costs in the long run.
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Recoat Every Few Years
Unlike other types of floors, caring for hardwood floors never ends. However, it’s a labour of love and it’s a rewarding experience. The good thing is that when you take good care of them, they will look brand new throughout the years. After 3 to 5 years, your floors may need a maintenance coat to touch up any small scratches and other minor defects. It would be best if you also got a reputable professional to do this to avoid damaging other parts of the floor that don’t need repairing.
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