Hardwood flooring is a guaranteed way to bring warmth and style to any room in your home. They are also extremely easy to care for, so long as they are installed correctly by a wood-flooring professional. Though wood flooring is a breeze to maintain, it is important to know what kind of flooring you have in your home. If you don’t know, you won’t know what to do to take care of your flooring properly! Check to see whether you have solid hardwood floors, engineered wood, or laminate flooring, and then follow these tips to keep your floors looking brand new.
Cleaning your hardwood floor is especially important in high traffic areas like your kitchen.
The Essentials
Broom & Dustpan
Use a broom with soft bristles to remove larger debris, like crumbs, hairs, and dust bunnies, without scratching your floor. The best bristles to use on any hardwood floor are ones made of rubber or nylon — these bristles use the help of static to help grab particles that would otherwise be left on the floor.
Mop
Use two mops to clean your floor, and make sure they’re made of microfiber. Wet one mop and soak it in water mixed with a wood-safe cleaning solution. When you’re done moping, use the dry mop to swab up any excess water — this is especially important for solid wood floors, as too much water can cause the wood to swell.
Solution
Do not use cleaners with harsh chemicals. You’ll want to avoid anything with chlorine, ammonia, bleach, and —though the name is deceptive— pine oil. These cleaners can ruin the sealant on top of your flooring and cause it to dull, or even chip away. Find commercial products that are made especially for wood flooring.
Hardwood flooring
Don’t leave any spills unattended for too long. Spills can leave stains and watermarks on your flooring. Clean up spills with a dry paper towel and then rinse with a damp cloth.
Laminate
Caring for laminate is a little easier than caring for hardwood. All you have to do is wipe up any spills as they occur, and vacuum/sweep once a week. Try to avoid harsh chemicals that could affect the color or shine of the laminae.
Talk to a professional about how to care for your wood flooring in Colorado.