Wooden floors are a classic, timeless addition to any home. Their beauty and durability make them ideal for many households, but these lovely floorboards are still maintenance-free. Proper cleaning and care must be taken to maintain the beautiful look of your wooden floors. To help you keep your wood floors looking their best, here are 12 tips for adequately washing wooden floors:
- Sweep or vacuum your wood floor regularly. The frequency with which you should do this depends on the foot traffic your wood floor receives and other dirt-level factors. Weekly or biweekly sweeping or vacuuming should do the trick. Make sure to use attachments that won’t damage the surface of your wood flooring when using a vacuum cleaner.
- Use a soft broom with natural bristles when sweeping your wooden flooring. This will ensure that no scratches occur while you’re sweeping up dust and dirt particles from the surface of your wood floors.
- Dip a mop into warm water and wring it out thoroughly before cleaning your floor. Ensure that any water used is kept to a minimum – too much moisture can cause warping in some types of wood flooring over time.
- Add some mild soap or detergent to the bucket of warm water if more thorough cleaning is needed – however, never use harsh chemicals like ammonia or bleach on wooden floors, as they can damage both the finish and the actual material itself over time!
- Spot clean stains immediately by lightly scrubbing them with a damp cloth and mild soap solution; then rinse all residue with clean water afterward. Do not let spills sit on your hardwood flooring, as they can cause staining and discoloration if left untreated for too long!
- Always rinse any soap residue after spot-treating a stain – residual soap can damage some wood finishes if left on for longer than necessary! Also, be sure to dry off any wet spots immediately after rinsing so you don’t leave streaks or watermarks behind on your hardwood floors over time from standing liquid puddles!
- Wipe away scuff marks from shoes by dipping a soft cloth into rubbing alcohol (or mineral spirits) and gently buffing at the mark until it disappears – just make sure that whatever substance you choose is safe for use around pets or small children who may come into contact with it later down the line! Furthermore, apply only enough pressure while buffing so that it doesn’t cause damage – rubbing too hard could potentially strip away protective finishes over time!
- Use furniture pads beneath chairs, tables, couches, etc., whenever possible to prevent scuff marks from appearing due to furniture movement across hardwood surfaces; choosing pieces made out of softer materials like felt instead of harder materials like plastic can also help avoid potential scratching issues throughout wear & tear usage!
Additionally, periodically check under furniture legs to make sure they don’t require readjustment – having slightly uneven furniture pieces sitting atop wooden floors can lead to serious gouging if left unchecked!
- Buff out minor scratches in the finish of your hardwood floor by gently rubbing in some paste wax along their length; many brands offer special “scratch repair kits” designed specifically for this purpose if needed as well – just make sure not to apply too much pressure while doing so or else further damage may ensue during buffing attempts!
- Place area rugs near entrances/exits within high-traffic spaces around your home – this will help catch dirt & debris before it has an opportunity to reach deeper into grain patterns within wood surfaces where it could become more difficult (or even impossible!)
- Refinish wooden floors every few years depending upon usage levels – refinishing offers protection against abrasive forces (i.e., sliding chairs across surfaces) and cosmetic benefits through its ability to revive dulled appearance caused by layers upon layers of daily wear becoming over time. Refinishing also helps extend longevity spans dramatically within certain cases thus making overall investment value higher than non-refinished alternatives. Consult professional contractors before attempting massive projects like these since mistakes due to improper handling procedures could result in costly damages rather quickly!
- Be mindful about storing items directly onto finished wooden surfaces when organizing household items. Doing so often causes indentations from heavier objects, giving way to ugly “dents” throughout pristine appearances.
