Keeping your hardwood floor in good shape is the best way to ensure that it looks beautiful and lasts for years. Here are some tips we have for taking care of your hardwood floor. If you have other maintenance questions, please feel free to contact us!
- Sweep regularly
- Floors collect dirt and debris very quickly: children drop crumbs, we track it in on our shoes, and pets track it in on their paws. If debris is allowed to collect on the floor, it can actually damage your floor when it is stepped on and moved around. It can scratch the finish and cause it to wear more quickly, especially in high-traffic areas. Create a habit of sweeping your floor as regularly as possible, to limit the amount of debris
- Damp mop
- NEVER wet mop your floor, as it can cause extensive and even irreparable damage. When your floor needs a deeper clean than a broom can provide, there are a multitude of damp mop options on the market today. Many include a microfiber pad that can be washed and reused many times, where others like Swiffer have single-use, disposable pads. Whatever damp mop system you choose, be sure to make sure that any chemicals are safe for hardwood floors. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like more information or would like to order the safe hardwood floor cleaner that we recommend, the LOBA cleaning system.
- Be careful with furniture
- Any movement of furniture can compromise the condition of your floor greatly. This includes (but isn’t limited to) appliances, chairs, tables, couches, gun cabinets or safes, etc. Moving your furniture can easily scratch the finish in your floor. Even worse, heavy items or items with small wheels and heavy weights can actually dent the wood under the protective finish. If the wood is dented, the only remedy it to sand the dent out. An easy preventative measure is to attach felt pads to the feet of all furniture pieces and replace them regularly. They will allow your furniture to slide across the floor when it moves and will save your floor a lot of damage.
- Pet pedicures
- If you can hear the tapping of your dog’s claws on your hardwood floor, they are long enough to potentially scratch and damage your floor. Small scratches from long pet nails can lead to serious wear on your floor over time. Though large dogs can potentially cause deeper scratches because of their weight, small dogs and other pets can still damage your floor if their nails aren’t maintained properly. Thankfully, minimizing pet damage to your floor is fairly easy. Get into the habit of regularly trimming your pet’s nails so that they don’t reach the floor.
- Be careful with plants
- Houseplants are beautiful and bring life into your home. If you have houseplants in your area, it is imperative that you monitor their drainage and frequently check for new leaks. Over watering your plants or keeping them in a pot with a crack can lead to serious water damage to your floor. Frequently move your plants around to inspect the area under them. If you can, placing a plastic pan under your plants will help prevent any unintentional water damage from your houseplants.
- Use rugs
- Placing rugs on high-traffic areas of your floor can help prevent the finish from wearing out unevenly. Additionally, they may help your pets or children from sliding around on a smooth floor. Though keeping rugs on your floor can be protective, it they must be placed properly. It is important to move your rugs around regularly to avoid uneven UV ray exposure. Over time, UV light can cause a slight change in color to your hardwood floor finish. If rugs are left in one place for too long in sunny areas, the color difference can be quite stark under the rug. If you have rugs down, check under them regularly to try to monitor uneven UV discoloration. During the refinishing process, we do offer finish additives that help prevent UV discoloration, ask us about our products during your free estimate.
- Don’t go too long without refinishing
- The most important factor in achieving the longest life from your hardwood floor is to adhere to a proper refinishing schedule. If you floor starts to look worn out in areas but isn’t down to raw wood yet, you may be a good candidate for a “screen and coat.” The screen and coat process involves lightly abrading the top layer of finish and applying a fresh coat on top of it. It can greatly extend the amount of time before a full refinish is necessary. It is also a great option for homeowners who plan to list their home, because it provides a refreshed look without the price of a full refinish. Many factors go into our ability to do a screen and coat on your floor, schedule your free consultation today to determine your floor’s need. If your floor is worn down to raw wood in any areas or if you want to change the stain color, it is time for a full refinish.