We use hardwood floors in our homes because they offer a great look and are actually easier to keep clean than carpet. While some have concerns over durability, with proper care, a hardwood floor will look better for longer than a carpeted floor. Here are some basics for caring for your hardwood floors that ensure they look like new for years to come.
- Just add water
Many of us overthink the cleaning of our hardwood floors. The truth is you don’t need expensive, chemical cleaners. You only need warm water. That’s warm, not boiling, which could actually damage your floors. With a damp mop, you should be able to perform typical cleanings. Two additional notes here. First, there are other tactics to use if you have extreme scuffs or stains on your floors. Second, be sure not to completely soak the floors, as too much water could cause floor boards to expand.
- Technique
There’s also a very specific way to use your mop to ensure all the dirt and grime on your floors is washed away. Look at your floors and determine which way the grain goes. Now, use your mop to go with the grain. This ensures that all the nooks and crannies in your floor are cleaned and no dust gets lodged in them. If you have a vacuum with a floor brush attachment, you can use this before you mop to get loose dust out of the way.
- Deep cleaning
When weekly mopping isn’t enough to remove excessive amounts of dirt, pet hair, scuffs and stains, it’s time to bring out the big guns. First, try a trusted wood cleaning product. You’ll first need to know if your floor has a hard finish or a soft oiled finish. This will dictate which product you buy. For tough grease stains and heel marks, you can clean with detergent to gradually break down the stain. You’ll likely need multiple attempts depending on the stain. A fine steel wool sponge and floor wax can then eliminate water marks and diminish any small scratches.
Should any significant damage occur to your floors, authentic wood floors can be replaced board by board, whereas laminates often must be replaced completely.
To see our currently available homes, complete with wood floors and other amenities, visit the Available Homes section of this site. Or, if you’d prefer to build your own home, contact us to get started.