Hardwood continues to be the homeowner's favorite selection of flooring and looking after it takes little work. Unlike laminate or made wood, wood can be refinished often, and can add many years of beauty and heat to your house, as well as increase its value and rate its resale. Ongoing floor attention is required to keep your wood looking its best, however, and there are four major areas of hardwood floor attention:
1. Hardwood floor cleaning
2. Hardwood floor repair
3. Hardwood floor refinishing
4. Hardwood floor protection
Clean Your Hardwood Regularly
Knowing how to completely clean hardwood floors is important because the bane of hardwood is mud and grit, that may scratch and indicate the floor if not removed immediately. As well, dust particles is seen easier on hardwood floors than it is on linoleum or on carpet, especially in the sun light and particularly if the floor has a dark stain. Hardwood floor good care, therefore, means sweeping and dusting regularly - once weekly, at least, and after any event that leaves dirt and grime and grit behind.
Regular home dusting and cleaning products may cause damage, however, and you also must only use products specifically made for hardwood. Vacuuming surpasses sweeping since it allows the mud and dirt to be taken from between your planks, but use vacuum pressure with a bare floor connection, not really a beater club, which may damage the wood.
Whenever a more in-depth cleaning is necessary, use a cleaning method appropriate to the final on your floor. If the floor has a shiny finish, this means that polyurethane, or a water-based urethane, or an identical finish off has been used to create a protective hurdle over the hardwood. If it has a matte surface finish, this means that the floor is covered with a penetrating seal of essential oil and/or polish. On neither of the finishes is normal water an acceptable soap, but both of these can recognize a surface, damp-mop cleaning, this means the mop is not moist but only wet to touch.
You are cleaning only the top rather than using enough normal water to permeate even the oiled-and-waxed wood. When by using a wet mop on engine oil and waxed hardwood, you can include a little natural ph hardwood floor cleaner to water before dipping the mop involved with it. A floor with a defensive glossy hurdle can admit a common hardwood floor cleaner providing it generally does not contain any polish or oil.
The don'ts are every bit as important as the do's in hardwood floor care;
1. Don't use ammonia, regular floor cleaners, household cleaners, or dusting products on hardwood.
2. Never use wax on a floor with a urethane or other glossy finish.
3. Never wash hardwood; use only a slightly damp mop.
Repair Any Damage to Your Floors as Soon as Possible
In most cases, when your oil and waxed hardwood floors have suffered surface damage, you have to remove the finish with a wax or oil stripper before dealing with the damage. After completing the repair, you then re-wax or re-oil the area. Surface damage occurs less often on hardwood protected by polyurethane or a similar type of sealer, and when it does, the damage is not as obvious. When repairing floors with such finishes, strip the finish from the entire board or boards where the damage has occurred. Make your repairs and then apply a finishing product to those boards that is consistent with the rest of the floor.
1. Water marks: Remove the protective finish, rub the marks with fine grade steel wool. Repeat if necessary, clean, and then refinish.
2. Burn marks: Lightly sand the area, use a damp cloth to pick up the grit, and then refinish as desired.
3. Scratches and gouges: Conceal shallow scratches with matching wood putty or a putty stick. After the area is dry, sand and refinish.
Refinishing Your Worn Hardwood Floors Will Recapture Their Original Beauty and Value
In a home with shabby hardwood floors, the biggest improvement you can make is to refinish the floors. Begin by making any necessary repairs, and then removing all the furniture and drapes and sealing the vents and registers in the room so that you won't spread dust throughout the house. Sanding floors is easiest to do with a drum sander and an edging machine for the sides and corners of the room.
You can rent these machines, and it is a good idea to rent a buffer or floor polisher at the same time. Plan to make three passes with your sanding equipment, using increasingly finer sandpaper each time. Vacuum carefully and pick up every bit of fine dust and grit with tacking cloths. All dust and dirt must be removed. You can now apply a stain if you wish or you can leave the natural color and design of the wood - such as the popular oak, maple, or cherry - to be displayed.
Polish and clean the dust and dirt from the floor again, and then apply your sealer - a polyurethane or a water-based urethane that provides a protective barrier, or oil and wax, which penetrates the wood and protects from within. Carefully read all the information accompanying each product, follow the safety advice, and apply as many coats of stain or sealer as suggested by the manufacturer of the products you are using.
Hardwood Floor Care Means Providing Ongoing Floor Protection
As well as regular cleaning, and repairing and refinishing when necessary, there are a number of protective measures you can take to preserve the beauty of your hardwood:
1. Use area rugs and mats in high traffic areas and sites of frequent spills (e.g., in front of the stove, sink, and refrigerator). Move these rugs frequently so that these areas of the floor remain the same color as the exposed floor. As well, it is best to choose cotton mats as they do not trap water under them as rubber or vinyl might.
2. Keep high-heeled shoes in good repair and avoid using stiletto heels.
3. Keep nails trimmed on pets.
4. Clean up spills immediately with a paper towel or dry cloth. A damp cloth can be used for sticky spills, but dry the spot immediately afterward with another towel or cloth.
5. Lift rather than drag furniture when moving it and use felt contacts under furniture legs to prevent scratches and gouges.
6. Use sheers or blinds to protect your floors from the discoloration caused by direct sun rays.
With care and maintenance, your hardwood floors will sustain their beauty and improve any d?cor that you select. Whenever your floors become worn, or if indeed they become damaged, they could be restored with their ex - glory with a while, work, and money. Make an online search to look at quality products, browse the information on how to utilize them, compare prices, and place your purchases. We can assist with your hardwood floor attention needs - from discount hardwood flooring to hardwood cleaners - and everything items can be bought online and sent to your door. Why don't we help you retain your wood floors looking their finest?