5 Tips in Taking Care Of Your Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are a wonderful addition to any household and look absolutely stunning. It should be noted that like any other part of your house, hardwood floors require consistent maintenance if you want them to always be looking at their best.

If you choose to go with hardwood flooring, you can expect a lifespan of up to twenty-five years. Taking excellent care of the floor will ensure you see the most of that lifespan as possible. This type of flooring is particularly expensive compared to laminate or other engineered flooring, so it only makes sense to protect your investment by being as diligent as you can in its upkeep.

Here’s how to ensure your hardwood flooring stays as pristine as the day it was first installed:

Dust Daily

Tiny particles of dirt, dust, and pet dander can easily become trapped in the space between individual planks of hardwood flooring. To eliminate one day having a disgusting gunky mess in between each plank, you should make sure you dust every single day with a microfiber mop. A microfiber mop will easily get in between the planks with minimal effort, this is just a quick daily once-over that will not only stop your hardwood from getting dirty, but it will also reduce the risk of scratches or damage caused by a small rock getting dragged across one of the boards.

Vacuum Once A Week

To stop bigger items the microfiber mop can’t handle, you should make use of a vacuum with a soft-bristled brush attachment. Make sure to use the brush attachment as a different attachment may actually damage your floor.

Use Hardwood Cleaner

Once a month it is recommended to apply some hardwood cleaner to your floor using a microfiber mop. Don’t over apply, you should be shooting to use only the amount of cleaner that is necessary. Also, make sure that if your hardwood floor has a special kind of sealant on it that it is compatible with your type of cleaner. While having to buy hardwood cleaner might seem expensive, Kevin Johnston from District Floor Depot says that full hardwood floors have a much longer life than engineered hardwoods helping supplement the added cost of having to worry so much about the upkeep.

Polish Your Floor

Typically hardwood flooring is treated with a polyurethane surface finish to help protect against damage and increase longevity. This finish should be repolished once every two to three months to keep its shiny luster intact. Keep in mind that you should be polishing with a buffing pad and not with wax, as wax is not good for a polyurethane finish.

Mop Up Spills Immediately

It will happen from time to time that something will be spilled on your hardwood flooring. It isn’t that big of a deal so long as you clean it up quickly. If you let the spill soak down into the boards, you risk your floor beginning to rise and warp due to the wood absorbing the liquid. Water is especially insidious but any liquid spill can cause issues.

Choosing hardwood floors doesn’t have to be a burden, you just have to keep these simple tips in mind and keep on top of all outstanding issues with your flooring if you expect to see your hardwood last a long time. If taken care of properly, your floor will be the talk of the neighborhood for decades to come.

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