Home renovations are exciting, and seeing how big a difference new floors can make to your home’s interior often makes people want to take extra care to keep them looking new as long as possible. Knowing the best ways to maintain your flooring is also an important way to protect your investment. Below we offer some practical tips to help you keep your new floors looking great for years to come.
Maintaining Beauty and Longevity
Step one: read the manufacturer’s guidelines and care instructions. We know, we know, no one really wants to read the instructions, but understanding the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific floor is like knowing the secret handshake. It will tell you things like specific cleaning products to avoid and best practices for maintaining your new floor. Periodic resealing, waxing, or refinishing for hardwood or natural stone flooring should be done on the schedule recommended by the manufacturer.
Speaking of cleaning – getting on a regular cleaning schedule is the first step to keeping every type of floor looking its best. Hard surface flooring can get scratched by the normal dust and debris that comes from living in your home. Dirt and dust that isn’t regularly vacuumed out of carpet settles deep in the fibers. Make a habit of sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming once or twice a week for all types of flooring. Spills are going to happen. The trick to avoiding damage is quick clean-up. Soak up the liquid right away. Harsh chemicals can damage the finish on hard flooring, so remove any remaining stains with a gentle cleanser.
A Few Things to Avoid
Harsh cleansers should be avoided in general – anything containing ammonia or bleach can interfere with the integrity of your flooring. Steam cleaners can be a great alternative but be sure they are not on the manufacturer’s list of things to avoid. You don’t want to cause a problem with moisture while trying to get your floor clean.
A room with plenty of natural sunlight is always nice, but keep in mind that UV rays can be as hard on our floors and furniture as they are on our skin. Protective films on windows can be helpful for spaces with prolonged direct sun. Periodically rearranging your furniture can help prevent fading on both your floors and your furniture. Don’t forget to add protective felt pads or glides to the legs of your furniture. Even furniture meant to stay in place moves a bit during regular use and can leave scratches or dents if you don’t take precautions.
Avoid damage from regular use in high traffic areas with rugs and mats. A space to remove outdoor shoes in your entryway is a great idea as well.
Keeping your new floors looking great year after year takes some effort, but it’s worth it for the long-lasting investment. Have questions about your manufacturer’s recommendations? The team at Flohr can help – reach out to us anytime.