A few tips to keep your hardwood floors clean.
Hardwood floors are very popular in today’s households because of their exquisite, natural look. They’re easier to maintain than carpet, but that doesn’t mean that you can sit idly by and not care for them on a regular basis. Today, we’re going to take a look at how to clean hardwood floors so that they look great, and the finish stays protected.
Sweep or Vacuum Every Week
If you’re the kind of person who remembers to sweep or vacuum every week, good for you! You’re already doing your part to keep your hardwood floors clean and protected. If not, then it’s time to either grab a microfiber sweeper (such as a Swiffer) or haul out the vacuum cleaner. If you’re vacuuming, use an attachment with either a brush or felt surface, but not one with rotating brushes or a beater bar because those may damage the finish.
Clean Up Moisture Right Away
When moisture is allowed to stay on a hardwood surface, it can penetrate the wood and cause it to stain. This counts for any type of moisture from water that’s been tracked in during a rain or liquid that’s been spilled onto the floor. Wipe up spills or any other moisture immediately so that it doesn’t have time to seep into the wood and damage it.
Careful with Furniture Polish
While it’s true you can use furniture polish to make your hardwood floor shine, leaving it on the surface can cloud the finish. If you decide to go this route, make sure that you wipe it off with a damp cloth right after you’ve applied the polish. If you’re looking for a better alternative to clean hardwood floors, use a non-ammonia window cleaner. Your floor will thank you for it.
Remove Shoes When Possible
It’s really too bad that it isn’t a tradition of our culture to take our shoes off every time we enter a home because that would really cut down on all sorts of floor damage. That being said, if this is a rule that you can instigate at least for your household members, then it’s definitely a good idea because the floor’s finish will last longer. Even though it might be difficult sometimes, you should try to get your guests to do the same thing.
Protect Busy Areas with Rugs
In areas where hardwood floors are constantly being walked on every day, it won’t take too long before the floor’s finish begins to degrade. A good solution is to use throw rugs in these areas, which will severely reduce potential damage. Word of warning, though – avoid rugs with a vinyl or rubber backing because those will trap humidity and may ruin the finish or stain the wood.
Invest in Some Furniture Pads
More homes than ever before now use hardwood floors because not only are they easier to maintain than carpet, but they also look fantastic. This means that more furniture is being placed atop hardwood floors since they may be in every single room. If you tend to rearrange the room or otherwise move furniture around for any reason, use furniture pads to protect the finish.
Follow Restoring Guidelines
Just because you have a hardwood floor doesn’t mean you can restore its finish with wax. Yes, this will obviously work with a floor that has a wax finish, but if it has either shellac, varnish, or polyurethane, then the wax will make the floor very slippery and interfere with future finishes. If the floor has a polyurethane finish, then use a polish specifically made for that surface. For any other surface finish, a general-purpose floor restorer will work.
Hire a Professional Cleaning Crew
Since so many of us have busy lives and cleaning our home is extremely time-consuming, it’s a good idea to hire a house cleaning service on a regular basis. This will save you tons of time and energy while keeping your home, including your hardwood floors, looking magnificent. If it’s been a while since you’ve had your home thoroughly cleaned, then you should consider a deep house cleaning as a kind of reset, and then begin maintaining it from there.
Contact Maid Impressions to Learn How to Clean Hardwood Floors
Maid Impressions knows how to clean hardwood floors and other surfaces to make them look perfect. Our team specializes in professional house cleaning services in Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, and the surrounding areas. If you have any questions about our cleaning system or would like to request a quote, give us a call at (727) 222-6019 today.
