Hardwood floors are an elegant addition to almost every house. If you want your floors to last, however, you’re going to need to know the right and wrong ways to take care of them. Maintaining hardwood floors requires more than just a vacuum. While specific types of hardwood might require specific treatment, some general tips can be applied to all hardwood floors.
No matter if this is your first hardwood floor or if you’ve maintained hardwood floors for years, review the following list to make sure you’re following best practices.
Dirt, hair, and other debris are easy to spot on hardwood floors. To cut down on visible particles, you’re going to need to sweep or mop several times a week. The problem with sweeping is that rough bristles will scratch and damage your floors. Look for a broom with extremely soft bristles. To further minimize your chances of damaging your floors, invest in a dry mop. Dry mopping is essentially the same as sweeping but is more gentle on your floors. Dry mops are ideal for picking up dirt, hair, and other loose particles.
Dry mopping is great for daily cleaning, but a dry mop can’t pick up the dirt or hair that has fallen in between the cracks of your floors. To make sure your floors are completely dirt-free, you’re going to want to vacuum at least once a week. Avoid using heavy vacuums. They can be hard to maneuver and could scratch your floors. Lightweight vacuums from well-known brands like Shark work best. They are easy to maneuver and come with attachments specifically designed for hardwood floors, which means that you can safely use them on your floors without worrying about potential damage.
Cleaning your hardwood floors might mean that you have to move furniture around. The problem with this is that heavy furniture tends to scratch floors. To prevent yourself from accidentally damaging your floor while cleaning, make sure that you put felt pads on the bottom of your furniture. These pads come in small circles to put on the bottom of furniture legs and larger pieces to put under larger furniture. This way, if a piece of furniture does get moved, it is the soft felt that comes in contact with your floors, not the hard edges of the furniture.
Water and other liquids have the potential to warp your floors and/or damage the finish, but sometimes cleaners are necessary to lift grime. You just need to be careful with what types of cleaner you use on your floor. Look for commercial floor cleaners that specify that they can be used on hardwood. To clean up built-up grime, first, dampen a mop or a rag with the cleaner. Clean the floor. Then, rinse the mop or rag with water, wring out excess liquid, and go over the floors one more time. Wipe up excess liquid with a dry towel.
Hardwood floors can last longer than carpet and laminate, but only if they’re maintained properly. Don’t rush cleaning your hardwood floors. This increases your chances of accidentally scratching or warping your floors. Whenever you clean your floors, make sure you take all of the necessary steps to clean them properly. Most households will want to dry mop and vacuum every week. Deeper cleans that include polishing only need to happen four to six times a year. And, of course, if you ever spill something wet or sticky on your hardwood, clean it immediately.
If you’ve recently moved into a house with damaged hardwood floors, consult with a professional carpenter to learn how best to tend to your floors. Once a hardwood floor is damaged, you’ll likely have to refinish the floor to get rid of any scratches. Refinishing a floor can be a lengthy process. You’ll have to sand, patch, stain, and apply a topcoat. Completely refinishing your floors gives you options over stain colors and stain finishes. If your floors are still in good shape, but you’re nervous about cleaning them yourself, consider consulting with a professional cleaning company.
Hardwood floors are beautiful and durable — and with the right amount of maintenance, they can last for years! If you’re lucky enough to have hardwood floors throughout your house, take the time to learn how to maintain them properly. Remember to take your time and find the right technique and the right cleaner that works for your floors.
When designing or upgrading a kitchen, selecting the right appliances is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. A well-chosen suite of appliances can enhance your cooking experience, increase your home’s value, and provide a cohesive aesthetic that ties your kitchen together. Achieving the perfect balance between functionality and design might seem daunting, but […]
Got a small space and big dreams for your living room? You’re not alone. Many face the challenge of finding living room furniture that fits tight spots but still oozes style. It’s like trying to squeeze into jeans from high school—tough, but not impossible. Here’s a cool fact: you can have chic and functional spaces […]
When you walk into a room, what’s the first thing you notice in the interiors? The furniture, the walls, or the ceiling? Often overlooked, the ceiling plays a significant role in defining the ambiance of a room. If you’re looking to add some flair, sophistication, or a modern touch to your living room, false ceiling […]
A thoughtful U shaped modular kitchen design can enhance functionality, and aesthetics in your kitchen, as well as in the dining and breakfast areas. With the various modular kitchen options available in India, the following ideas can help you envision your customized U shaped modular kitchen design. 1) Explore Neutral Color Palette The kitchen’s neutral […]
Indian homes place equal importance on pooja room door designs as they do on main door designs. With diverse and unique ethnic backgrounds, every family strives to reflect their personalities and identities in their designs. These identities can encompass religious or spiritual interests, local contexts, or other personal elements. This series of blogs, featuring 50 […]
Gate Design is an important feature of any home. Numerous scopes for experimentation open up when delving into the design possibilities. Materials like wood and black steel are popular options in Indian homes. At the same time, designers also experiment with a combination of materials that suits their aesthetic. Buying mass-produced Sydney automated gates has […]
Hyderabad is a city that boasts a rich and diverse architectural heritage that has been shaped by its history and cultural influences. The city has been ruled by various dynasties, including the Qutb Shahis, the Mughals, and the Nizams, who have all left their mark on its architecture and influenced young architects in Hyderabad. The […]
Should I study architecture or Interior Design? This is a question every high school graduate comes across. Moreover, the difference is not as commonly clear as it seems. Students often end up getting wrong advice like ‘they both are very similar’ and ‘you only need to be good at drawing’ etc. Well, that’s not true […]
The magic of creating a Space is the end-users ultimate urge to wish and spend all their time and grow old in it! This might just be the biggest success of an Architect, who is responsible for turning the client’s requirements and designing an aesthetically pleasing livable space. The Architect’s Diary has carefully curated a […]
Turning an empty plot and executing an entire design from plinth to top is like taking a blank canvas and painting an entire story on it! Architects are creators; creators of spaces, giving life and meaning to them. The Architects not only represent their city, but are also extraordinarily responsible in shaping the city’s skyline.The […]