How To Safely Clean Your Hardwood Floor

Hardwood floors are a timeless, elegant and durable design element that fit into nearly any style of décor. High quality hardwood floors are among the top floor coverings chosen by homeowners - but the thought of cleaning them safely can be a bit intimidating. Keeping your hardwood floors looking new and fresh requires a bit of work and maintenance - and the right cleaning products. Here are some tips to help you keep your hardwood floors looking brand new or bring them back to life.

Prevention is always best.

It is always easier to prevent serious damage to your floors than it is to mend it. These tips will help you prevent dirt from damaging your floors.

• Use mats and area rugs at each entrance to capture dirt that might get tracked in. Tiny particles of dirt and sand will damage the finish on your hardwood floors, and those tiny scratches collect dirt so that your floor requires more frequent cleaning. Placing mats or area rugs at each entrance to the room will keep the dirt off your floors and keep them looking new longer.


• Do not use rubber-backed or non-ventilated rugs. They can damage your floor. Instead, look for mats made specifically for hardwood floors.


• Shake the mats out regularly so that dirt does not work its way through them to damage the floor beneath.


• Mop up all spills promptly to avoid damage to the finish or the wood.


• Avoid sun damage by using window treatments or awnings, and regularly rotate furniture and rugs so that the entire floor ages evenly.


• Put floor protectors on furniture and table legs to avoid damage and wear from the weight of the furniture.


• Never drag furniture across floors. Lift and carry to avoid scratches in the surface of the floor.


• Avoid walking on your floors in stiletto heels and keep pet nails trimmed to avoid scratching and denting your hardwoods.

• Invest in a good quality broom and sweep hardwood floors daily to pick up any loose grains of dirt and dust. You can use a vacuum cleaner without a beater bar to get at dirt between planks or in hard to reach places.



• Once a week, damp mop your floors with a solution of ½ cup of white vinegar to a gallon of warm water. Be careful not to over-wet the floor, and dry with a soft towel as you go along to prevent water damage. Do not damp mop daily to avoid damaging the finish of your floor.



• For tougher stains or deeper cleaning, use a professional wood-cleaning product according to the manufacturer's instructions. Generally, that means spraying the product on and cleaning it off with a soft mop.

• DO clean stains on a hardwood floor with a cleaner specifically made for hardwood floors.


• DO buff away scuff and heel marks with a soft, dry cloth. Use floor cleaner only if necessary.


• DON'T was hardwood floors with a urethane finish, and choose cleaners that don't leave behind a film or residue. Mop-and-shine products are not recommended.


• DO clean sticky spots with a damp towel or sponge.


• DON'T use ammonia cleaners or oil soaps on a wood floor. They will dull the finish and may make it difficult to re-coat your floor when you refinish in the future.


• DON'T use excessive water in cleaning hardwood floors. Wood expands when wet, so large amounts of water may cause the floor to swell, leading to cracking and splintering of the wood.

• Revive your wood floor by screening and recoating. This process uses an abrasive screen on a floor polisher to abrade the current polyurethane finish on the floor so that you can apply a new coat of urethane. If you are generally handy around the house and do large-scale DIY projects, you can do this yourself. Otherwise, hire a professional.


• Stains that have penetrated the finish into the wood below generally require sanding and refinishing. While the process sounds similar to screening, it is much more involved. It will completely remove the old finish and stain, taking the floor down to bare wood that can be re-stained and refinished for a like-new floor.

About Author:
Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about topics and products associated with floor care and home maintenance such as the H2O Mop.

Article Source: http://www.toprankarticles.com

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