Like many other households in the past two years, we’ve taken to remodeling our home and fixing up some of the old and damaged parts that we didn’t have the time to address previously. Our hardwood floor is no exception.
Over the years, what was once bright and shining wood ended up dull and scratched so even a new coat of floor finish wasn’t enough to disguise the deeper scratches and dents. Having to replace your hardwood floor takes some time and can add up to a hefty amount depending on the finish and quality of the wood.
Even hardwood floors require a soft touch now and then to make them last decades and look timeless all the while. Here are some tips we had to learn to make sure our new flooring lasts longer than our last one:
- Clean spills immediately
You might have taken to toting around a big water jug so that you remember to drink water during the day. But what about when you accidentally spill some water? Do you remember to clean it up or do you just let it dry? After all, how much damage can water do? A lot, it turns out.
Wood swells and shrinks depending on moisture. While the lacquer can protect your floor some and resist a few spills, water can end up soaking into the wood and causing damage. It’s best to clean up any liquids as soon as possible so you won’t end up damaging the wood.
- Protect It from scratches and dents
Scratches and dents are a pain, but they are a fact of life. But there are certainly ways to keep them to a minimum. Avoid wearing outdoor shoes on your pretty and shining wooden floors because outdoor footwear is much more likely to have dirt and other rough materials that can easily scratch your floor.
If you have plenty of heavy furniture, you can also consider investing in scratch protector pads. These pads can act as a barrier between your floor and the furniture, and you won’t have to worry about your furniture leaving deep dents on your hardwood.
- Sweep as much as you can
Dust can settle into the grain and between the floorboards. We might not be able to see it immediately, but trust me, it’s there. Dust buildup can be annoying, especially if you have furry friends around who shed like your hairbrush that you haven’t cleaned for months. Sweep daily to get rid of the biggest offenders.
For the harder to reach crumbs, use a vacuum weekly. A hand vacuum can work in a pinch or even one of the bigger ones to reach hard to reach places. Crumbs and dirt can cling and end up scratching your floors so this step is important.
- Clean your floors properly
While there’s no strict rule on what cleaning product to use because different finishes and wood would need different routines, you should listen to the advice of experts including the product manufacturers as they would know best on what works with their products or not.
One thing to keep in mind is to avoid any harsh chemicals like bleach or even furniture polish when cleaning your floors as they can create a hazing effect that can make your floor look worse and you can end up causing irreparable damage to the hardwood.
Avoid using a steam mop as well as the moisture can end up damaging the wood. Use a microfibre mop and a gentle wooden floor cleaner instead.
- Re-Finish your floor
It happens to the best of us. Even if you follow all these tips, after a few years, your floor will inevitably need a recoating to keep it looking fresh and timeless. The shine can go away after a few years, around three to five years is a general number, and you’ll need a fresh coat of wood floor finish to keep it shiny and to protect it from the elements.