Wooden flooring adds beauty and warmth to any home. It is very durable, but, like everything, the care it receives can work much in its favor to add some more years to its life. Primark understands that if wooden flooring has to look new for years, then it requires care. Here in the following blog, you will come to know a few practical and useful tips and tricks that are going to teach you how to keep your wooden flooring well-maintained.
Why Maintaining Wooden Flooring is Important?
Wooden floors are an investment in your home. Proper care will allow them to last for a very long time-probably even decades. Regular maintenance prevents scratches, stains, and dullness. Well-maintained floors retain their natural beauty and shine. Let’s forget about neglecting them as they can easily create damage that is hard to repair and expensive. Let’s dive into how you can easily take care of your wooden flooring.
- Sweep and Vacuum Regularly
Dirt and dust may rub off the wooden floorings. Therefore, it is important to clean your floors regularly through sweeping or vacuuming. Scraping off small particles using a soft-bristled broom or an attachment for your hardwood floor vacuum will be able to remove scratches better.
Clean high-traffic areas daily. Wet soil, if cleaned immediately will not be a problem. But do not forget that it should also be cleaned lightly, for it to not damage the surface wood.
- Mop With Care
Wooden floors require special treatment when mopping. Never soak the floor with water because, as is commonly known, wood and water do not go along well. It may warp the wood surface due to too much moisture. Instead of a wet mop, use a damp one.
At Primark, they would suggest a microfiber mop for wooden floors. They pick up dirt very well without leaving much water on the floor itself. If it feels like you need it, add some gentle hardwood floor cleaner to the water. Make sure and wring that mop out very well before using it.
- Wipe Spills Immediately
Spills do happen, but they need to be cleaned up right away. Liquids can sit too long on a wooden floor, and stains or swelling can occur. Wipe spills immediately with a soft, dry cloth. For sticky spills can use a dampened cloth slightly, but you then need to dry the area.
Liquids like wine, juice, or oil are slightly more dangerous. They would leave permanent stains if they are not cleaned up immediately.
- Use Furniture Pads
Heavy furniture could leave a dent and cause scratches on your wooden flooring. This is prevented if the placing of felt pads is done underneath the legs of chairs tables, and other furniture as well. These pads reduce friction between the furniture and the floor.
When moving your furniture, use the lift instead of dragging it because friction may cause scratches on that wooden floor, which might be too deep in the end and force its refinishing.
- Keep Direct Sunlight Away
Direct sunlight can fade the color of your wooden flooring. Over time, your wooden flooring may fade to give your home a dull look at a particular spot. Use curtains or blinds to eliminate direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day.
You can also mix up the furniture and rugs for different areas of the floor to not fade out faster than others. This will ensure that color in flooring persists uniformly across the entire room.
- Protect High-Traffic Areas
The traffic areas are mostly around halls, doorways, or entrances; these locations would be the first place that you notice the wear and tear on your wooden flooring. Use high-traffic area rugs or runners to protect your wooden flooring.
Make sure to choose a rug with a non-slip backing for safety. Also avoid rubber-backed rugs as they have a tendency to hold up moisture into the flooring, thereby discoloring it.
- Refinish When Necessary
Wooden floors, even if kept in good condition, tend to lose their shine with time. Scratches and wear marks might show up in heavy-traffic areas. You can regain that beauty if you get them refinished. The frequency at which you should refinish your floors depends on their degree of usage. Normally, it’s done every 7 to 10 years.
If your floors are scratched or damaged, refinishing them by a professional would be the best option. It generally involves sanding the surface down so that it is smooth and then applying a fresh coat of finish that will make your floors look new again.
- Use the Right Cleaning Products
Wood flooring requires the proper products to maintain it. Avoid using some products that contain chemicals in it, such as bleach or ammonia. These can rob the wood of its natural oils, stripping away the finish on the wood. Only use cleaners intended for wooden floors.
The staff at Primark recommends mild cleaning products that are non-abrasive. If a product you have has no instructions, test it on a little hidden area first.
- Trim Your Pet’s Nails
If you have pets, especially those dogs, their nails can scratch wooden floors. Trimming your pet’s nails would lessen the problem of scratches. Rugs in areas where your pets like to run around or play can also alleviate this problem.
For added protection, apply a scratch-resistant finish on your floors. This way, those claws won’t be able to destroy it and your floors will remain looking good.
Conclusion
Wooden flooring looks great and is still quite resistant to any damage in your home. However, it does require regular care and maintenance so that it continues to look this good for a long time. From simple tips here, you can make sure that your floors stay a new-looking wood flooring for a pretty long period. At Primark, they Believe in helping our customers get the best from their wooden flooring. With proper maintenance on your part, the floors will continue to shine and add value to your house.
