If you have hardwood floors in Beaumont, you know how well they complement your home. They increase your property value, they add beauty to your interiors, and they’re easy to clean. But you also know that they take a good amount of upkeep to ensure they stay glossy, scratch-free and elegant.
From dirt brought in on people’s shoes to your dog’s claws, hardwood floors take a lot of abuse. It’s only fair that you temper that abuse with regular maintenance. Here’s how to maintain your hardwood floors in Beaumont.
Clean Spills Right Away
Preventive maintenance is key. If you spill a liquid on the floors, wipe it up immediately with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Do not use wet or steam mops, which can damage your floors. Keep humidity levels in your home low, as wood will swell and shrink with high moisture content. This could lead to cupping, splitting, and gapping. Keep the house temperature between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and ask everyone to take off their wet shoes at the door.
Perform Routine Cleaning
How you clean your floors will depend on the kind of finish they feature. Not sure what you have? Just rub your finger across the floor. No smudge? You have a surface-sealed floor. Smudge? You have a floor that was treated with a penetrating seal. You’ll need to clean surface-sealed and penetrating seals a bit differently. If you’re still not sure, buy generic hardwood floor cleaner at a retail flooring store.
One tip: never use wax-based or petroleum-based products if you have a surface finish floor; they will damage the finish.
Wood floors are typically sealed with urethane, polyurethane or polyacrylic, making your floors stain-resistant and water damage-resistant. All you have to do to clean them is sweep and mop occasionally. Only use recommended floor cleaning products, or you could make your own with a quarter cup of mild or pH-neutral soap in a bucket of water.
Wring out the mop before cleaning, and be sure to mop in the direction of the wood grain. When you see the water start to get dirty, dump out the water solution and start over. When done cleaning, dump the bucket out again, fill with clean water, and give your floors a good rinse. Let dry thoroughly.
Spot Cleaning Tips
- To get off scratch or scuff marks, sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge.
- To get off food, water, or grease, use a commercial cleaner.
Preservation Tips
- Sweep or vacuum regularly, particularly in high traffic areas. Add a doormat near each entrance to prevent dirt from being tracked indoors.
- Wipe up spills and mud immediately.
- Be careful when choosing runners and area rugs, as the dyes used in those can stain floors, while plastic backings can alter the wood finish. Always use a carpet pad.
- Buy special rug mats from wood flooring retailers that can protect your floors from discoloration.
- Clean your floors monthly with manufacturer-recommended wood flooring cleaner. Ask your installer which product they recommend.
- Don’t walk on hardwood floors with cleats or high heels unless you want to scratch the finish or dent the floor.
Use Furniture Pads
Your wood floors are most vulnerable to scratches, and unprotected furniture contributes highly to those scratches. Stick furniture pads under the legs of all tables, chairs and sofas.
Sweep and Dust Every Day
It sounds like a lot, but daily sweeping will go a long way toward preserving your floors. Dust settles everywhere, and that includes into the grain and between floor boards. Institute a no-shoes rule in the house, and have everyone sweep or vacuum their own rooms each day or at least each week so no one person has to be responsible for cleaning the whole house. When vacuuming, use the bare floor setting.
Over time, your wood floors may start to look a bit dull. This is inevitable, especially in large households that get a lot of traffic. But in this case, you can renew their loss through recoating, which adds a new coat of wood floor finish. You can do this every three to five years. You may need to sand and refinish after a couple of decades.
Contact Designer Wood Flooring
For more cleaning and care tips for your hardwood floors or to book a consultation on installing new ones, contact us at 830-228-4866.
