How to Care For and Maintain Hardwood Floors

Cleaning your hardwood floor isn’t a one-and-done deal. From rain, mud, snow and salt to leaves, dirt and more, seasonal changes come with a variety of factors that can dull your hardwood floor. It takes just a little effort to maintain hardwood floors and keep them looking great, starting with getting into a cleaning and maintenance routine. Follow a schedule and stick to it.

This is one of the most underestimated and easy steps in the process. Dust daily to keep dust and dirt off the floor. This will prevent scratches and extend the beauty and life of your floor. Daily dust mopping will significantly reduce allergens in the home. More effective than traditional methods, a microfiber material uses a static charge to attract more dust and allergens. These smaller fibers reach into floor pores to lift dirt more effectively.

Over time, debris builds up on hardwood floors. That’s why it’s important to clean them on a regular basis. However, there's a right way and a wrong way to clean floors. It’s best to use a cleaner that’s made for your floor’s finish. Too much liquid can damage floors, while the wrong formula may not work. Look for pH-neutral, nontoxic and biodegradable formulas to clean effectively and keep your home and environment safe. Vinegar, for example, can eat away at the finish, even when diluted with water. Use a washable microfiber pad to remove bacteria and keep waste out of landfills.

Sweeping is not the best method for cleaning hardwood floors because it spreads the dust around the floor and into the air. If, however, you choose to sweep, use a broom with angled soft bristles and sweep with the grain.

Polishing helps to extend the life of your hardwood floors and adds shine. Before polishing, dust or sweep the floor to remove loose debris. You may also want to follow up with vacuuming to make sure you pick up all the dirt and dust. Use water-based polishes to restore luster and shine every two to three months. These polishes won’t leave a residue or emit harmful toxins, but they will prevent overcleaning and stripping of your floor. Durable, urethane-based polishes have fast dry times, no waxy buildup and a protective wear layer to fill in micro-scratches and even out the appearance of the floor.

Refinishing hardwood flooring restores the wood to its original shine and appearance. Refinishing depends somewhat on the age of the floor and the thickness. For hardwoods that are only 1/4-inch thick, refinishing could do more harm than good by stripping away the entire floor. Generally speaking, refinishing only needs to be done once every seven to 10 years.

• Regularly dust and clean your hardwood floor to keep it looking like new.
• Avoid using water and vinegar, soap-based cleaners, wax or steam cleaners on your hardwood floor. Over time, vinegar and water will dull the floor’s finish, while soap or wax will leave a residue. Steam cleaners put heat and excessive water on your floor, which can lead to cupping and long-term damage.
• Use a natural, rubber rug underlayment with a waffle pattern in entryways or high-traffic areas.
• Felt floor protectors for furniture and chair leg floor protectors help cut down on scrapes and scuffs in the wood.
  
• Avoid wearing high heels, which can cause scratches or gouges in hardwood.
• Use the proper tools to clean your floor: a mop paired with a machine-washable microfiber pad for dusting and cleaning. Avoid string mops — these put excessive amounts of water on the floor, which can be damaging, and just push dirt around instead of picking it up and removing it.
• Wipe up all spills immediately to avoid permanent stains.
• Keep pet nails trimmed.
• Maintain a comfortable environment and temperature — no extremes in humidity.
• Refrain from using oil-based polish, which not only dulls the wood’s finish but can also make the floor slippery and cause injury.