Learning how to clean your natural hardwood flooring is one of the best ways to protect your home investment. When taken care of properly, hardwood flooring can last a lifetime and beyond. This guide will teach you the best practices in maintaining your natural hardwood flooring and ensuring it gets the TLC it deserves.
Table of Contents
1. Clean Spills Immediately
Cleaning spills immediately when they occur is a somewhat obvious way to maintain your natural hardwood flooring and keep it looking brand new. Natural hardwood flooring is timeless and durable, but still susceptible to water damage. Cleaning up any liquids that spill onto your hardwood floors as soon as possible ensures you preserve their quality.
Cleaning up messes immediately may seem like a no-brainer. However, hardwood flooring is often damaged due to liquid. The most common occurrence of leaving your hardwoods soaked happens in the entryway. It can be easy to overlook the mess that often arises when coming and going from your home. Keeping your hardwoods dry, even in areas of the home where it feels impossible to maintain, can make or break the longevity of your hardwoods.
2. Use Furniture Pads
Using furniture pads is a quick and inexpensive way to preserve your natural hardwood flooring. Though it is a simple enough process to add pads to the legs of your furniture, it is often overlooked. Most furniture does not come with pads already adhered. Since hardwoods are innately more slippery than carpeting, simply flopping down on your couch after a long day can shift furniture and thus scrape your natural hardwoods.
You likely installed natural hardwood flooring because of the timeless look and easy cleanup. While both of those qualities are true of hardwoods, they can also be easily damaged by situations we don’t foresee, such as furniture shifting. Using furniture pads is the easiest way to combat this and ensure your hardwood flooring looks natural, new, and scratch-free for decades to come.
3. Sweep & Vacuum Regularly
Many of us already have sweeping and vacuuming on our weekly chore list. This common task becomes even more important when taking care of your natural hardwood flooring. As you likely know, dust tends to accumulate everywhere. With hardwood floors, dust builds up in the grain of the wood and between the floorboards. If you have pets, sweeping and vacuuming regularly is even more important, not only for the look of your hardwoods but for hygienic purposes as well.
Luckily, vacuuming does not have to be a labor-intensive activity. Many hardwood floor owners opt for robotic vacuums, which can clear up dust with minimal effort from the homeowner. Whether your space is small or large, robotic vacuums are an excellent way to maintain your natural hardwood flooring with close to zero effort.
4. Use Wood Cleaner Monthly
Anyone with hardwood flooring in their home is likely well acquainted with a mop. Though mopping is another excellent way to preserve your natural hardwood flooring, it is important to routinely use a wood cleaner. Sticking to a schedule when it comes to using wood cleaners is often beneficial for not just your hardwood floor but for your time management as well.
It is crucial to understand how your natural hardwoods will react to certain cleaning agents. Laminate flooring with the appearance of hardwood isn’t as sensitive to chemicals. With the luxury of natural hardwood flooring comes the responsibility of knowing what products to use. There are a lot of options out there, and we are happy to recommend products specific to your hardwood needs. Reach out to us anytime if you have any questions regarding wood cleaners.
5. Refinish Every 3-5 Years
Over time, your hardwood flooring is bound to dull. This can easily be combated with a refinish every 3 to 5 years. Your natural hardwood flooring can be renewed and restored to its original glory with a new coat of floor finish. Depending on your lifestyle and availability, it may be advisable to hire someone to refinish your hardwood floors. For resources regarding this, along with the aforementioned cleaning products, contact us with any questions.
The Rewards of Natural Hardwoods
Cleaning your hardwood flooring is not always the easiest task, but it is guaranteed to be rewarding. Natural hardwood flooring can be a large investment for any family, and maintenance on this particular flooring type is crucial for its longevity. Having and maintaining hardwood floors is a gratifying experience and yields beautiful results. With the right routine, your hardwood flooring can stay in mint condition for many years to come.
