Maintenance and Care for Hardwood Floors

Hardwood Floor Maintenance Care

We have some great news for you: hardwood floors come with a very doable maintenance and care routine!

You don’t need bulky, space-eating machinery like carpet cleaners to keep your hardwood floors looking great. Nor do you need expensive cleaners or magical potions to have your floors remain in good condition.

Instead, all you need is some simple supplies like a broom, a dry mop, and your trusty vacuum for your go-to hardwood floor cleaning tools.

Continue scrolling to get some more details on how to best care for and maintain your hardwood floors.

Regular Cleaning

Hardwood floor cleaning practices follow this general rule: if you see something, pick it up; if you feel something, give it a sweep. In sweeping regularly, you are preventing dirt and other gritty materials from turning into little nuisances that scratch your hardwood floors. Also, clean up spills immediately!

Vacuuming is another great way to maintain your hardwood floors’ lifespan – they are often able to suck up the minuscule pieces of debris that are invisible to the naked eye. The more you can get off your hardwood floors, the better!

When it comes to mopping your hardwood floors, you should use a dry microfiber mop. Traditional mopping with a bucket and wet mop creates too much water presence on your hardwood floors and that is certainly something to avoid.

Opt for a dry mop that limits moisture from damaging your floors. The use of a gentle cleaning solution in warm water with a soft cloth will get you to where you need to be! You can also use that same gentle water solution to clear up any hazing you might see.

Preventable Maintenance Tips

There are some things in your control that you can implement to maintain your hardwood floors’ longevity. For example, rugs with a natural rubber backing help in high-traffic areas to reduce the amount of abuse your hardwood floors experience.

Protective pads and furniture coasters (not plastic) are also great ways to keep your hardwood floors dent and scratch-free. Avoiding excessive moisture and spills and intentionally managing your pets on hardwood floors are also key ways to be proactive.

We recommend the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be.

Hot tip: if you have an area rug on top of your hardwood floors, it’s great to get in the habit of regularly rotating their placement so as to allow the wood to age evenly. Nothing like graceful aging!

Scratch and Dent Care

If you do find any scratching or denting on your hardwood floors, don’t panic – your money has not gone to waste! If you have some minor gouges, you can buy some wood putty to fill it in. Simple buffing and polishing will also help remove any surface-level scratches. But don’t go overboard: start gently and work your pressure up as needed.

There are great wood-toned markers on the market now that can be used to disguise small scratches as well. And don’t be afraid to color in scratches with the right stain.

For more intense scratches and dents, we advise the use of professional assistance.

Refinishing and Recoating

When it gets to the point where the majority of your wood floors are showing signs of aging, you know it’s time to refinish and recoat them. You should hire a professional to buff or sand the floors to achieve the best results.

Solid hardwood floors can be refinished multiple times, compared to engineered hardwood floors that have a suggested refinish allotment of once or twice.

If you are wanting to revamp your space, consider the use of a different colored stain before applying the finish to your floors!

Conclusion – Hardwood Floor Maintenance and Care

There you have it! Choose to follow these maintenance tips to care for your hardwood floors in the best way possible. Make it a worthwhile investment!

At Lakeside Floor Coverings, we know a thing or two about all things flooring. You can rely on us to give you an experience that you can trust and return to for years to come!

Above all, at Lakeside Floor Coverings, we want you to create a space that you love being in. We will help you achieve that and we hope to work with you soon. We’d love to work with you! Contact us today to start a project! 763-503-0100

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