Hardwood Floor Care Tips And Resources

The ambiance of naturally beautiful hardwood flooring is simply incomparable. For this reason, more and more homeowners are choosing it over other kinds of floor coverings.

Although wooden floor surfaces give the home décor an ethnic look, they are difficult to maintain. You would have to work hard to preserve their original sheen. Here are a few useful hardwood floor care tips that will help you to prolong the life of your flooring.

Doormats and rugs - At each and every entry point, place a doormat or area rug. These items will collect dust, mud and dirt and prevent them from acting as sandpaper and damaging the delicate surface of the floor. Make sure that the mats are not rubber-backed or non-ventilated types. Shake the mats often to remove all the accumulated dirt.

Brooms and vacuum cleaner - Buy a soft bristle broom to mop up the floor covering. Use the vacuum cleaner to remove dust from areas that are hard to reach like the regions between the planks. Use mild soap solution to finally clean the floor.

Conditioners and sealers - From time to time, use conditioners and sealers to enhance the appearance of the wooden floor. Before buying these products, ensure that they do not contain any harmful chemicals or dyes.

Water, oil and ammonia - Avoid ammonia and oil-based cleaners, and never use large quantities of water to clean your floor covering. Wood has a tendency to expand when it is wet. Too much of water will cause the floor surface to swell up, crack and splinter. This is one of the most important hardwood floor care tips that should be remembered at all costs.

Window treatment and other protectors - Excessive exposure to sunlight causes the wood to age quickly. Hence, high-quality window blinds are essential. Table and chair legs should be guarded with protectors to prevent scuffing. All the sharp and pointed objects should be kept away from the hardwood floor.

Some more hardwood floor care tips

If your floor covering is excessively damaged, then screening and re-coating becomes crucial. In the process, the original polyurethane film is removed and a fresh coat is applied. This procedure will rejuvenate your wooden floor as well as enhance its durability and endurance.

If your floor surface is extensively damaged, then screening and recoating will not help. You would have to sand the floor until the bare wood is clearly visible. Thereafter, you would have to re-stain and refinish the surface. It is advisable to hire an experienced professional for this process as it requires a bit of expertise.