How do you look after hardwood floors?

Engineered to endure for a lifetime, solid wood floors are sometimes the last part of a building to deteriorate and can even live longer than the structures they are fitted in. Incredibly hardwearing, a real wood floor that is installed by professionals and cared for appropriately can give property owners an exceptional return on such an investment.

Although solid wood floors are not tricky in terms of maintenance, they do still need regular care to keep them on top form. In the next sections, we’ll explain how to get the best from your hardwood floor, the protective measures you should take and how often these methods should be applied.

Always use furniture pads

Wooden floors can be susceptible to scrapes and scratches. While many such marks may be entirely unavoidable, some can be sidestepped with a little planning. Placing furniture pads beneath your sofa’s castors and table and chair legs will make certain no unwanted scratches spoil your floor.

Mop up spills swiftly

Whether accidents are rare or a regular occurrence in your home, when they happen, acting fast is key to protect your hardwood floor. If vase of flowers overturns or a drink slips and spills, causing a pool of water on your planks, clean it up as fast as you can using either a totally dry or slightly damp cloth. It’s never wise to use a mop that’s wet, as this will exacerbate the issue and may inflict harm to your floor.

Real wood’s attributes make it react to moisture by shrinking or swelling, whether it has had liquid spilt upon it or moisture is simply in the air surrounding it. To avoid gaps, splits and bumps in your floor, it’s important to keep unwanted water from impacting it and home humidity levels to a minimum.

Sweep your wood floor every day

You might think a daily sweep is a bit over the top, but it’s a wise move for those with floors made of wood. Dust can collect in between wooden floorboards, along with pet hair, so sweeping daily is well worth the effort to stop them getting stuffed with unwanted debris. Use a brush with soft fibres for sweeping to avoid harming your floor.

Vacuum weekly

By vacuuming at least once a week, any small particles like grit, crumbs or dirt can be removed. While tiny, these particles can cause harmful scratches when they’re forced into wood by human traffic.

Use a wood floor cleaner monthly

Every month, use a dry mop and some cleaner specifically designed for hardwood floors to give your flooring a high shine.

Sand your flooring

Over an extended period, even durable real wood floors can start to look dull. The good news is that they can easily be refreshed. Professionals floor experts can sand your floor at 10-year intervals and apply a fresh coat of finish to bring back their lustre.

If you follow these guidelines, you’ll ensure you floor keeps looking its best, allowing you to enjoy your investment.