Wood flooring is a popular and sophisticated choice for interior spaces. It has several benefits, including its natural beauty, durability, and moisture resistance. However, with these advantages come some additional maintenance requirements. When you have wood floors, you need to take special care of them to ensure they stay in top condition for years to come. In this article, we’ll talk about how to properly take care of your wood floors so that they look great all the time. Cleaning and maintenance Cleaning is the first and most important step in properly maintaining your wood floors. Even though hardwood is a very durable floor covering, you still need to clean it regularly. If you allow dirt and grime to build up on your floor, it can cause permanent damage. This is especially true for light-colored hardwood floors since they are more susceptible to staining. Hardwood floors are porous, which means that dirt and grime can settle in the pores of the wood. When this happens, you’ll need to use a very strong cleaning solution to remove it, which can cause damage to your floors. To help protect your wood floors, you’ll need to clean them regularly using a soft-bristle brush and warm water with a light cleaning solution. You should also use a microfiber cloth to dry the floors after you’ve mopped them. When cleaning your floor, always start at the farthest point from the door and work your way towards it. This will ensure that you don’t track any dirt or debris into a previously clean area. Maintaining humidity levels Maintaining the humidity level in your home is a crucial part of keeping your wood floors in good condition. Wood is a porous material, which means that it absorbs moisture from its surrounding environment. The level of humidity in your home can be determined by looking at the relative humidity level on a hygrometer. If the humidity level in your home is too high, it can cause your wood floors to swell, which can lead to permanent damage. When wood swells, it can create gaps between the floorboards, which can lead to floorboards becoming misaligned and loose. Therefore, it’s important to keep an eye on the humidity level in your home when you have wood flooring. You can use a humidifier or a dehumidifier to change the humidity level in your home. You should also make sure to keep windows closed when it’s humid outside since this can cause the humidity level indoors to rise. If the humidity level in your home is too high, it can cause your wood floors to expand and contract. This can lead to gaps between the floorboards, which can cause damage over time. Therefore, it’s important to keep an eye on the humidity level in your home when you have wood flooring. Dusting and vacuuming You should vacuum your wood floors regularly to remove dirt and dust. Vacuuming should be done at least once a week and more frequently if you have pets or have a lot of foot traffic in your home. If you have a deep-cleaning vacuum, you can use that on your wood floors once a month. You should avoid using a beater bar on wood floors because it can cause damage. Instead, you should use a vacuum cleaner that has soft bristles. If you have hardwood floors, you should also use a vacuum cleaner that has a low suction setting. It’s important to use a vacuum cleaner that can handle hardwood floors. You can find vacuum cleaners that are marketed for hardwood floors online or in a hardware store. If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner that’s suitable for hardwood floors, you should use one that has soft bristles. Dark wood care If you have dark wood flooring, you should dust and vacuum regularly to remove dirt and dust. You should also use a soft-bristle brush to remove any dust or dirt that has settled in the grooves of the floor. You should also use a microfiber cloth to dry the floor after you’ve mopped it. When you’re cleaning your dark wood floors, you should be careful to avoid using cleaners that leave streaks. While it can be tempting to use products like Pledge and Mr Clean, they can leave streaks that are obvious on darker wood floors. Instead, you should use a soft-bristled brush and a microfiber cloth to clean your dark wood floors. You should also avoid using excess water, which can cause the wood to swell. Instead, you should use a microfiber cloth and dry the floor thoroughly after you’ve mopped it. Light wood care If you have light wood flooring, you should dust and vacuum regularly to remove dirt and dust. You should also use a soft-bristled brush to remove any dust or dirt that has settled in the grooves of the floor. You should also use a microfiber cloth to dry the floor after you’ve mopped it. When you’re cleaning your light wood floors, you should be careful to avoid using cleaners that leave streaks. While it can be tempting to use products like Pledge and Mr Clean, they can leave streaks that are obvious on lighter wood floors. Instead, you should use a soft-bristled brush and a microfiber cloth to clean your light wood floors. You should also avoid using excess water, which can cause the wood to swell. Instead, you should use a microfiber cloth and dry the floor thoroughly after you’ve mopped it. Resolving discoloration issues If you’ve been cleaning your wood floors regularly but they are discoloring anyway, there could be a few reasons why. The first is that your wood floors have been exposed to too much moisture. If your floors are swelling because of high humidity, you should take steps to reduce the amount of moisture in the home. If your floor is discoloring but you’re not sure if it’s because of high humidity or something else, you can test it with a pencil. Rub a pencil eraser against the floor and see if a mark is left behind. If you see a mark, it’s likely that your floor is swelling due to high humidity. If there is no mark, it could be because the flooring is sealing itself from the moisture. Repairs and refinishing When it comes to repairing wood floors, there are different situations that call for different types of repairs. For example, if you have a loose floorboard, you’ll need to have it repaired or replaced. If your wood floors have been scratched, you can have them sanded and re-stained. If the finish of your wood floors is fading, you can have them re-stained. You can find a reputable contractor online by looking for reviews. When you’re repairing or refinishing your wood floors, make sure to use a stain that matches the color of your existing flooring. If your floor has sustained major damage, you may want to consider replacing it. When replacing your wood floors, you have the option of using real wood or a synthetic wood floor. Real wood flooring is more expensive, but it also has a more durable and longer-lasting lifespan compared to synthetic wood flooring. Conclusion
Wood flooring is a beautiful and popular choice for interior spaces. While it is durable and long-lasting, it does require some special maintenance. You can keep your wood floors in good condition by cleaning them regularly, maintaining the humidity level in the home, and avoiding cleaners that leave streaks. When the time comes to repair or replace the floors, you can have them sanded and re-stained or replaced with synthetic wood. Now that you know how to properly take care of your wood floors, you can relax knowing that your floors will last for years to come.