Regular Maintenance: Sweep or mop floors regularly with a soft mop or broom. You can also vacuum your floor with a soft-bristled attachment but don’t use a vacuum cleaner with a power rotary brush, or beater bar on your hardwood floor. Regular sweeping, vacuuming or mopping will prevent the buildup of gritty dirt and small particles or bits of dirt from outside that can scratch the wood’s surface.
Use a good quality floor mat or rug underneath heavy furniture and at all entrances and exits. Mats and rugs collect substances that otherwise might be tracked into your home from outside. For those who live in your home, consider removing shoes as you enter the home, or changing to inside shoes. Keeping outside dirt and grime outside will do much to keep your floor looking fresh and new and reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning. You can also use a mat or rug in front of the stove, sink or vanity to catch spills and reduce wear.
The sun can damage wood flooring and cause unwanted heat expansion, so use good window coverings that limit the exposure of your floor to the sun. Keep blinds closed when no one is using the room. Wood floors age with time, so it is also a good idea to move furniture or rugs periodically for even aging.
Wipe up any spills immediately so the liquid is not left to stain or warp your hardwood floor. For substances hardened onto your floor like chewing gum or wax, put ice on the substance to harden it, and then gently scrape with a credit card or plastic scraper. Scrape carefully so as not to scratch the surface of your floor and then wipe with a clean, slightly damp cloth.
Keep your pets’ paws clean and their nails trimmed. Pets can track in dirt that can scratch or stain your floor, and over time a pets’ nails can leave tiny scratches on your hardwood floor.
Walking on your hardwood floor with spiked heels or shoes with damaged heels can scratch your floor. Also, be careful when moving furniture to use plastic feet protectors on the bottoms of furniture legs or to use a moving mat, or be careful to lift and not slide lighter pieces. A few minutes of caution can prevent scratches and gouges that can only be removed by sanding and refinishing your floor.
Use cleaners specifically designed for hardwood flooring and avoid wet-mopping or excess water or liquids as you clean your floors. Avoid oils soaps and waxes and products containing lemon and citrus. Use approved hardwood floor cleaners. Using steel wool or scouring pads may scratch the surface of your floor.
If you are in the market for hardwood flooring in Billings, Montana or the surrounding areas, please visit Murray Floor & Window Coverings. Murray has been in business for over 17 years and they are your hardwood floor experts in the Billings area. Let Murray Floor & Window Coverings walk you through the hardwood floor buying experience from selection to installation. Customer Service is our specialty.
