For years, hardwood flooring has remained the frontrunner of most loved and valued home flooring options. Not only does hardwood flooring look great and trap fewer irritants than carpeting, but it can also add an additional 10% to your home’s market value.
That being said, you can’t expect your hardwood floors to do much for the aesthetic or value of your home if it isn’t well maintained!
That’s why we’re going to talk about the steps you can take to maintain hardwood floors and keep them looking new for years to come. These steps are simple and cost-effective, as long as you practice them on a regular basis.
Read on for our hardwood flooring tips and reap the benefits of any hardwood, whether it’s engineered, solid, or reclaimed.
Weekly Hardwood Floor Maintenance
One of the best things you can do for your hardwood floor is to clear it of any debris once a week. Throughout the week, your floor will accumulate dirt, dust, and other small particles that are easy to overlook. However, when you walk across these particles, you run the risk of scratching up your beautiful hardwood floors.
To eliminate this risk, all you need to do is sweep or vacuum once a week. Vacuuming is preferable, as it tends to pick up more debris than a broom and dustpan will. We recommend using the hardwood floor setting on your vacuum or the flat attachment on your vacuum, both of which don’t use the hard bristles that can also scratch your floors.
Another reason that vacuuming is preferable to sweeping is that a vacuum’s suction can pull up any debris that’s caught between the cracks in your floor. Not only does this give you a more polished finish but it reduces the number of particles that can end up lowering your indoor air quality.
Semi-Regular Hardwood Floor Maintenance
About once every two to four weeks, you may want to give your hardwood floors a more thorough cleaning. To start, use your vacuum or broom to pick up any debris that may have accumulated since your last weekly cleaning job.
Then, make sure that you’re using the right cleaning supplies. While most of our hardwood cleaning tips can be applied to any type of hardwood flooring, any sprays or solutions you apply should be specific to the type of wood you have in your home.
No matter what you use, make sure that you’re not using harsh chemicals. Hardwood floor cleaners that use harsh chemicals tend to promise a renewed or rejuvenated appearance. However, you’re more likely to notice a strange haziness on your wood floors without much polish.
If you’re using a mop to clean your hardwood flooring, we recommend using a microfiber or chenille mop. These soft fibers provide a more thorough cleaning job and won’t scratch your floors.
Recognizing Warning Signs and As-Needed Hardwood Floor Maintenance
In addition to your regular and semi-regular hardwood flooring care, you’ll want to look out for warning signs that your hardwood floor is at risk of suffering permanent damage. There are also some steps you can take as needed to keep your hardwood floors looking and feeling brand new. Let’s take a closer look.
The Warning Signs That Your Hardwood Floors Need Extra Attention
Hardwood floors are fairly durable, but there are certain conditions that can cause permanent damage if not addressed right away.
For example, in extremely dry conditions, your hardwood floor can start to become brittle. This leads to cracking, splitting, and shrinkage. If you notice your hardwood floors growing dry and brittle, add a humidifier to the dry space.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, hardwood does not react well to extremely moist or wet conditions. When hardwood is left wet for too long, it can cause the wood to “cup” or dip in the affected areas. You can find out more about the risks of wet hardwood flooring and what to do about it in this article.
Giving Your Hardwood Floors a Quick Touch-Up
Have you noticed a few scratches in your hardwood flooring? This is bound to happen over time and fortunately, the solution may be more simple than you think.
Head to your local home improvement or department store and purchase a hardwood furniture repair kit. These kits tend to come with a stain marker that allows you to easily re-stain targeted areas in wood. It’s as simple as coloring in the scratch.
Recoating Hardwood Floors
Over the years, your hardwood floor is going to lose its luster. The good news is that you can restore the finish on your hardwood floor rather than having to replace the entire thing–as long as you catch it soon enough.
If you notice that your hardwood flooring is looking dull, it’s time to apply a new layer of finish. This will restore the appearance of your hardwood and protect it from deeper cracks or scratches that are hard to repair. The best news is that you don’t have to sand your floors before applying the finish–just make sure they’re clean first!
Maintain Hardwood Floors to Get the Most Out of Your Investment
Hardwood flooring is a favorite for most homeowners, as it provides a beautiful natural appearance to any interior and helps to improve indoor air quality. Make sure that you maintain hardwood floors to keep them clean and functional and get the most out of your investment–and the most out of your property value!
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Read Also : 3 Amazing Benefits of Hardwood Flooring
