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Hardwood floor maintenance: 5 tips for proper floor care

Wood floors are the classic par excellence thanks to their durability, elegance and affordable prices. However, lack of cleaning, pests and the passage of time will cause floors to deteriorate. Fortunately, there are many products and methods for proper wood floor maintenance.

From vacuuming wood floors to using a wood floor cleaner, there are many ways to restore the shine and extend the life of the planks. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 20, 30 or even 100 years, your home’s flooring will look as good as new.

So if you’re wondering what maintenance hardwood floors need, read on! We are Canada Floors Depot, recognized distributors of flooring materials in Canada and the United States. In this article, we present you 5 tips for good hardwood floor maintenance.

How to maintain hardwood floors?

Cleaning hardwood floors is a simple task with the right products and methods. Of course, accumulated dirt, moisture and insects are factors to keep in mind. In addition, the type of wood is another important point because of the material’s composition, resistance and shine.

Learn more about the different types of hardwood floors at this link.   

Either way, polishing hardwood floors doesn’t require much effort. Sometimes it is not even necessary to repaint or replace the planks. But… how to clean hardwood floors properly? What can be done to extend their lifespan? How to polish hardwood floors?

Let’s see what the experts at Canada Floors Depot recommend for proper hardwood floor cleaning!

1-Choose a soft broom.

Choose a soft broom

Scrubbing hardwood floors with a broom is essential for removing dust and dirt. However, brooms with hard bristles wear down the surface of the wood. Therefore, buy a broom with soft, angled bristles so that the friction of sweeping does not damage the floor.

Also, try to sweep daily so that dirt does not accumulate and worsen the condition of the wood. As an additional tip for wood floor maintenance, be sure to sweep in the direction of the wood grain to prevent dirt and grime from getting trapped in the crevices.

2-Sweep with a soft nozzle.

Another recommendation for wood floor care is to use a vacuum cleaner. Preferably, incorporate a floor nozzle and not a carpet nozzle so that the wood floor covering is not damaged. Try to remove all dust, pet hair and debris from even the most difficult corners.

3-Use a hardwood floor mop

If you’re wondering what to use to clean hardwood floors, mops are an excellent alternative! In fact, this excellent product for cleaning hardwood floors prevents the planks from deteriorating. If possible, get a mop with a flat head or a mop with microfiber threads for total dirt removal. 

Want to know how to install hardwood floors in your home? Read this article!

Best of all, using a mop for wood floor maintenance removes nasty stains. You can also dampen the mop with a wood floor cleaning solution to make every area of your property shine.

Beware of floor cleaners

Beware of floor cleaners

To protect wood floors, try to use cleaning solutions specifically for wood floors. In this regard, avoid cleaners based on ammonia, vinegar or with harsh chemicals. In fact, most wood floor products are water-based. Also, if the wood is badly damaged or very old, use the mop with as little moisture as possible.

Not sure how to choose a hardwood floor for your home? Find out here!

4-Wipe up spills immediately 

If an accident or spill occurs, don’t wait hours or days to clean the dirt from hardwood floors. On the contrary, you must act immediately! Spills of ink, coffee, tea, juice, paint, chemicals or pet waste cause dark stains that are difficult to remove.

Hardwood floors are beautiful, but there are also other types of floors to decorate your home, discover them in our online store!

To do this, use a mop to remove spills with wood floor cleaners. You can also use microfiber cloths to scrub the floor until the stain disappears. Make sure the mop or cloth is not saturated with moisture and only spray an adequate amount of cleaning solution.

Now, if the floor is already plagued with stains, you can try to remove them with mineral spirits and then mop or wipe thoroughly with a microfiber cloth.

5-Avoid sanding unless necessary. 

While there are many methods of how to polish hardwood floors, sanding them is a big mistake! Hardwood floors that are more than 20 years old should not be sanded. On the contrary, if you are looking to polish the floor of your property, it is ideal to apply wax or use microfiber pads.

However, if the wood floor is plagued by stains or marks that mineral spirits could not remove, then sanding the coating is recommended (only if the wood is new).

Other tips for cleaning wood floors

  • Do not use heavy equipment or machinery to clean the old wood floor, as they can further damage the surface. 
  • Avoid applying the wrong cleaning products, such as acrylic polishes or ammonia solutions.
  • Never, never… Never steam clean a wood floor! Steam cleaning hardwood floors can warp the floor due to drastic changes in temperature and humidity.
  • Attend to any liquid spills immediately so that stains do not form.
  • Dry up any water stagnation and seal sources of moisture.
  • Although many recommend cleaning hardwood floors with vinegar, don’t do it! Vinegar is an acid that deteriorates the finish of the floor, plus it reduces the shine of the wood.

How to disinfect wood floors?

To disinfect wood floors you can use a mixture of 1 gallon of hot water and ½ cup of bleach. Then, wipe with a microfiber cloth or soft mop for 5 minutes.

Now that you know how to clean old wood floors without damaging them, what are you waiting for to apply these tips! Remember, moisture and accumulated dirt are the enemies of wood floors. Also, remember to sweep and mop frequently to polish the wood floor and extend its life.  

The best hardwood floors at Canada Floors Depot

If you need professional advice or are looking for a hardwood flooring distributor, we are what you are looking for! At Canada Floors Depot you’ll find all the on-trend hardwood flooring for 2022. But there’s more! Our warehouse offers you an extensive catalog of flooring, materials, equipment and flooring accessories.

We are backed by more than 20 years of experience and dozens of satisfied customers. In addition, we handle the most prestigious brands and flooring products, and we are leaders in the Canadian and U.S. markets! Don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team will be pleased to assist you.