David's Flooring Tips
Install and Clean Different Flooring Types
How to Clean and Maintain Hardwood Floors
A traditional hardwood floor can add value and beauty to your home, and wood floors have been used for centuries. Those floors installed today are coated in polyurethane or water-based varnish, which keeps moisture and scratches away. Even a properly sealed floor requires careful maintenance and cleaning, however; no harsh chemicals or large amounts of water should be used. Follow these simple steps to keep your floor clean and looking great for a long time.
First, you will need to vacuum the floors completely, removing all debris and sand. If sand is left on the floor, mopping and mere walking will leave scratches. When the floor is vacuumed clean, buy a pH-neutral flooring cleaner in concentrate form. High-pH cleaners are designed to strip grease, while lower-pH cleaners are good for stripping mineral deposits and hard water stains. Choosing a pH-neutral cleaner will clean your hardwood flooring without removing the layer of sealant.
Mix the concentrated cleaner with water, preferably distilled to minimize streaking. Dampen a washcloth or rag (wring out almost all of the water). Go over each section of floor twice, soaking and wringing the mop after each section. Use dry rags to buff the floor and bring back the shine, and keep the floor shiny by cleaning spills immediately. You can minimize the chance of scratches by keeping pets' nails trimmed and putting felt pads or rugs under chair and table legs. Also, you should vacuum frequently to remove sand and other abrasive materials.
Cleaning and maintaining a hardwood floor doesn't have to be difficult. By following the steps above, you will easily be able to keep your floor clean, shiny and beautiful-looking for years to come.