Sunday, November 18, 2012

Keep Your Hardwood Floors Looking Beautiful

By Tracy Long


Taking care of your hardwood floors can be easy and fun! You can keep every one of your wood floors shiny and tough for a long time by using just a minimal quantity of time and effort. Incorporate these simple steps into your floor cleaning routine and you will have a brand new looking floor that is hardy and will last. Floor maintenance will no longer be the bane of your existence with these easy tips!

Cleaning the dirt off of the surface of your floor and in between the floor boards is an essential first step. It is also necessary to regularly clean these areas to prevent the buildup of grime. Wet rags or mops should not be used on any hardwood floor. Use a vacuum with a wood floor attachment, a dust mop, or a broom instead. Cleaning up spills right away is crucial. Start at the edges of a spill and work towards the center using a soft cloth. If spills are not taken care of, damage will be caused to your floors.

It is beneficial to use mats or rugs at any entrance to keep small stones and debris away from your freshly cleaned floor. Debris like this can cause scratches and general dirt and dust build up. You must use caution when deciding on a rug. Some rugs have rubber bottoms which can discolor your hardwood floor and therefore decrease its value. Special rugs, made specifically for wood floors, can be purchased from a hardwood floor retailer. These rugs and mats will prevent discoloration and help to preserve your flooring.

You should know what kind of finish was used on your flooring already but if you do not know, you can contact the manufacturer of a hardwood floor professional. Some types of finish need different cleaning products or styles of care. Each different style of cleaning affects the floor differently. Some could even harm the wood if used incorrectly. The three types of finish that are used on the majority of hardwood floors are surface finishes, wax, and acrylic impregnated.

It is a good idea to use the products suggested by the manufacturer. If you have floors with a surface finish, you should not use wax-based or petroleum-based products. These will damage the surface. Wax surfaced floors should only be cleaned by solvent-based waxes, buffing pastes, or cleaning liquids made for these types of floors. After you've cleaned you wax surfaced floors, put on a new layer of wax to enhance the shine. Finally, acrylic impregnated surfaces must be cleaned using the same cleaning products as with surface finished floors or you can use a specific type of spray and buff procedure suggested by the manufacturer.




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