How To Clean And Maintain Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is not only beautiful to look at but, when maintained and taken cared of properly, it can also be a long-term investment. Some people find caring for hardwood quite easy but most will agree that it is no easy feat. The key is to religiously follow a maintenance regimen from the time it was installed and everyday thereafter. Here are some tips to make hardwood floors last longer.

Identify the Finish

More important than knowing the kind of wood used knows what kind of coat it is finished with. Surface sealed floors, or those coated with urethane and polyurethane, are generally resistant to water-damage and are easier to clean. On the other hand, penetrating sealed and oil-treated floors need to be protected with liquid or paste wax.

Surface-Sealed Floors

Equally important to knowing which products to apply is being familiar with which products not to apply. Waxes, oils, and furniture spray must never be used on surface sealed floors. Applying wax is time consuming and it will make recoating more difficult to do. Oil, on the other hand, leaves unsightly residue while furniture spray can make the floor surface really slippery. In addition, avoid using alkaline, straight ammonia or abrasive cleaning products as these can scratch, dull, or damage your flooring.

It is always safer to use cleaning products that are recommended by the company who applied finish on your flooring. But if such products prove to be too expensive or difficult to secure, you can always rely on mild soap and plain water. However, remember that water is still wood’s worst nemesis. A damp mop should be used rather than a water soaked one.

High traffic areas, such as the kitchen and living room, must be swept at least once every day and mopped once every week. Less traffic areas can be mopped at least once every month.

Penetrating-Sealed and Oil-Treated Floors

Use a paste or liquid wax that is recommended by the floor finisher. Liquid wax is easier to apply but it leaves a thinner coverage, whereas paste wax offers better protection. Remember to use a stripper to remove old wax build-up before applying a new coat. Make sure that the floor surface is free of dust and residue before applying a new coat of wax.

Penetrating-sealed and oil-treated floors cannot tolerate moisture so damp mops should be avoided altogether. Regular surface vacuuming and sweeping often does the trick.