Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular flooring choices worldwide and proper care for it should begin immediately after its installation. Whether it is covered with lacquer, oil or even without any finish, hardwood requires special care in order for it to look good and last for a long time. This involves careful consideration of temperature and levels of humidity, regular maintenance, and proper cleaning.
The first and most important thing is to take into consideration the temperature and the level of humidity. Experts’ advice is for the humidity in the room to be in the range of 45 to 60%, and the temperature of 18 to 25 ° C. The temperature fluctuations in the room have recommended limits and they are ± 5 ° C. When you buy the hardwood planks, the manufacturer or seller in the store will tell you these and other conditions that ensure the durability and safety of wood.
However, if you buy a house or an apartment where the wooden floors are already installed, there is no way of knowing what these conditions are.
Hardwood floors with natural oils or wax finishers require special care and are hard to maintain, thus making lacquer the most common finish choice. However, the lacquer finish wears off with time and reapplication is needed.
The cleaning of wooden floors is no rocket science – you can do it easily by yourself, and if done regularly and correctly, your flooring can last for generations.
Here are some tips that will help you with the maintenance and cleaning of your hardwood floors:
One of the most important things when it comes to hardwood flooring maintenance is to prevent it from scratching. This includes protection against any moving objects such as the legs of your furniture, which can be secured with a special lining made of felt that is sold in stores. Moreover, if your furniture (desk chairs, couch, sofa) has plastic wheels, it is best to replace them with rubber ones.
The preferred way for keeping the wooden floors clean is to use a vacuum cleaner (with the hard floor setting that does not use bristles). Although the use of wet mops is not recommended, you can use a slightly damp mop. The important thing is not to soak the floors in water. Wooden floors do not tolerate water, so if you spill some on them, you need to dry it immediately.
Cleaning the wooden floor does not require any harsh chemicals. It is even mandatory to avoid detergents such as kitchen cleaners, paint thinners, detergents with alcohol, gasoline and other similar substances.
How to take care of hardwood floors with different finishes?
Hardwood flooring with oil or wax finish
Waxes and oils do not completely seal the floor. They form a thin layer on its surface which protects it from the penetration of moisture and dirt. If you want to touch up an area of a hardwood floor with oil or wax finish, you need to polish only the damaged area, without going through the entire floor. The cleaning of wooden floors with oil or wax finish requires special detergent that should be mixed well with water and applied with a slightly damp mop. Follow the instructions of the manufacturer. It is important not to add soap or other cleaning products, as they can create an alkaline reaction and the wood may change color.
Hardwood flooring with lacquer finish
Dirt accumulates in lacquered floors over time. It is easily cleaned with special detergents that are sold in the form of aerosols or concentrates. Their most distinctive feature is the fact that they are neutral to the composition of the finish, thus reducing the risk of damage. No matter how durable and high-quality the lacquer you have used is, over time, worn areas, micro-scratches and other imperfections appear on the surface of the floor. For this reason, you need to periodically reapply the lacquer, especially if you have pets or children that run around the house.
Comments