16 Nov Tips for Maintaining Your Hardwood Floor

Hardwood floors provide an air of elegance, increase a home’s resale value, and there’s a wealth of colors and wood types from which to choose. The environmentally conscious can select from woods that act as sound buffers and those that are sustainably sourced, along with woods that have natural antibacterial properties.

However, hardwood flooring can’t be treated like traditional types of floor coverings. The following are essential tips for keeping your hardwood flooring looking lustrous for years to come.

Avoid Vinegar

A mixture of vinegar and water is a popular homemade cleaning solution, but it’s not made for your hardwood floor. As an acid, vinegar will break down the chemical finish that’s been applied to protect the surface Over time, it reduces the shininess and you’ll be left with a floor that has a dull and lackluster appearance.

Hardwood flooring has a protective layer on the surface, but you’ll want to avoid exposing it to excessive amounts of water. Doing so can lead to unsightly discoloration. The flooring can also swell, leaving you with an uneven surface that may even require expensive repairs or replacement.

Dust and Sweep

You’ll need to dust or sweep your hardwood flooring regularly to remove dust, dirt and numerous bits of minuscule pieces of pebbles and debris that enter a home on shoes. They safely remove dirt and debris without scratching floors. The beater bar and wheels on vacuums can damage floors. A number of devices are available on the market that utilizes microfiber pads to clean that won’t scratch or mar the finish.

Mopping

When you mop your hardwood floors, use a modern mop with microfiber pads and pair it with a cleaning formula designed for the mop and hardwood floors. This type of mop dispenses a fine mist of liquid that won’t cause your floor to swell or warp. Clean in sections to minimize the amount of liquid and the length of time it remains on the floor. Traditional mops leave too much liquid on the floor and can leave streaks.