Hardwood floors are one of the most desirable flooring options available today. The perfect blend of style and functionality, a hardwood floor can completely transform the feeling of a space. As a key component of your home’s aesthetic, it’s important to keep your hardwood floors in great condition. After all, hardwood flooring tends to carry a higher price point than other flooring options, so it only makes sense to protect the value of such a substantial investment.
Here are a few effective strategies for cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors:
Sweep and Vacuum Regularly
The best way to keep your hardwood floors in good condition is to sweep them as often as possible. Even if your floors don’t look dirty, sweeping your floors every day is still a good idea because little things we can’t see can lead to bigger problems.
While not everyone has time to sweep their entire house every day, covering entry points and high traffic areas can still be very helpful. Regular vacuuming is a good idea as well, preferably once per week. If possible, use your vacuum’s “hard floor” setting. This setting deactivates the brush roll and works only by suction. Some vacuum models even have rubber wheels, which are less likely to scratch your floor than other models with plastic wheels.
Use a Microfiber Mop
After sweeping and vacuuming, use a dry microfiber mop to pick up any remaining dust or debris. Microfiber mops are also great for wet mopping because they use less water than traditional options. So, you may consider following up your dry mop with a damp mop. While some steam mops say they’re safe for hardwood floors, the moisture and high heat is just too risky.
As for cleaning solutions, you wouldn’t want to damage your floor’s finish with any harsh products. Instead, you’re better off sticking with natural, DIY solutions, such as diluted white vinegar.
Rugs and Furniture Pads
Rugs and furniture pads are crucial for preventing scuffs and scratches from sliding furniture. It’s recommended to place rugs in high traffic areas, where your flooring is more likely to get scratched and suffer wear and tear from constant activity. Rugs also provide a barrier between the floor and furniture, which can scratch your floor from being moved back and forth.
If rugs aren’t your style, you can apply furniture pads to the legs of chairs, sofas and tables. Rubber pads are best for furniture that is meant to stay in one place, whereas felt glides are designed for furniture that’s supposed to move freely, like chairs.
Maintain Temperature Control
Wood is extremely sensitive to temperature and humidity. If there’s too much moisture on or around the wood, it will cup. Conversely, exceedingly dry conditions can cause gapping, cracking, and splitting.
So, you’ll want to keep indoor humidity levels between 35 – 55% and avoid dramatic shifts in temperature or humidity. It usually doesn’t get too humid here in Austin, but activating a humidifier during those long stretches of hot and dry weather will create a stable indoor environment, and your floors will thank you.
If you have questions about maintaining the condition of your floor, the experts at Flohr would be happy to help. Thinking of replacing your current floors with wood flooring? Our team can help with this too. We offer free consultations where we collect measurements and other crucial information that allows us to give you an accurate estimate. Give us a call to set up yours today.
