While hardwood floors add value to your home, they require special cleaning techniques to protect them against dirt, ice melt, leaves, and other debris. Here are some of the best ways to care for hardwood floors at your house to keep them in great condition now and in the future.
Dust and Sweep Every Day to Care for Hardwood Floors
The easiest way to care for hardwood floors is by sweeping or dusting them with a microfiber cloth every day. Even if you don’t wear shoes inside and track dirt on the flooring, daily dusting and sweeping are excellent ways to protect your floors. If you don’t stay on top of dusting, specks of dirt and dust can settle into the space between boards and the grain of the wood itself. Beyond sweeping, vacuum once a week.
Don’t Let Spills Sit
To care for hardwood floors every day, you should always wipe up spills or excess moisture on the wood as soon as possible. Timber will shrink or swell based on the humidity levels in the room, but it will also shrink or swell based on direct contact with moisture. To prevent long-term damage to your flooring, avoid tracking wet shoes across the floor and using steam mops.
Use Wood Cleaner Once a Month to Care for Hardwood Floors
There are many different wood cleaners designed for different types of wood and hardwood flooring. Do your research to make sure that you do not do damage while you care for hardwood floors at your house.
Once a month, wash your hardwood floors using a floor-safe cleaner and make sure that it has time to thoroughly dry. Avoid washing it too often, or you risk adding too much moisture to the wood.
Protect the Floor
Even if you do a good job caring for hardwood floors at your house, they could be at risk of scratches and other permanent damage based on your other activities. In high-traffic areas of the home and near entrances, use a rug with a non-slip base to help lessen the impact on your floors. Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes on your hardwood flooring. If you have pets, keep their nails short and trimmed. Use felt pads on all of your furniture.
Know the Signs of Problems
As you care for the floors in your home, you might start to notice irregularities or changes in the wood. It’s essential to act quickly once you think there is a problem to avoid permanent damage. Check your flooring regularly for signs of cracking, splitting, or gapping. These all indicate low humidity levels. If your floors are cupping, moisture levels might be too high.
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