While hardwood floors are beautiful, they require proper maintenance to retain their beauty and shine. Real hardwood floors can be easily damaged if they are cleaned incorrectly or walked across with the wrong footwear. If you have real wood floors, here are some tips for taking care of them.
Avoid Wearing Heels
Spiked high heels are the enemy of real wood flooring in Rocky Hill, CT because they can cause dents or gouges in the planks. Avoid wearing them if possible when you leave or come in from work. Also, if you have a dog, keep its nails trimmed as they can also scratch hardwood when the dog walks or runs across the floor.
Dust Mop to Clean
Most hardwood floors just need to be dusted to stay clean, so you can use a dust mop or electrostatic pads to clean them. Do not use a damp or wet mop on wood flooring as the moisture can soak into the floor and stains can develop. If the floor has a polyurethane finish, then the floor can be damp-mopped but unless you know, don’t take chances with the flooring.
Use a Humidifier
Wood naturally dries and shrinks as it ages, especially when the air is dry such as in the winter. To avoid shrinkage, turn on a humidifier and set it between 35% and 55%. The shrinkage could cause gaps between the planks, which could require repairs from a flooring company like Dustless Hardwood Floors LLC.
If food or a liquid is spilled on wood flooring, it should be cleaned right away to avoid the moisture sinking into the wood. Use a cloth to wipe up the spill but do not use any type of chemical cleaners as they can ruin the finish. With care, your wood floors will remain beautiful.
