The durability and hardwearing nature of wood are often the deciding factors when homeowners are searching for the perfect flooring. In order to maintain its beauty – and to avoid damage – thorough attention and care is essential. If you follow our simple steps, then your wood flooring will be looking as good as new, and will last for years to come.
How to maintain your wood flooring?
Follow our top tips to ensure your wood flooring is maintained, even throughout the busyness of daily life.
Cleaning your wooden floors
Cleaning is one of the simplest and quickest ways you can maintain your wood flooring. Day to day maintenance involves dusting with a microfiber cloth or mop. Dust can dull the finish of your flooring, so we recommend you try and give it a regular dusting. If daily cleaning isn’t always possible, then having a thorough weekly clean is the next best thing. A vacuum should be your cleaning tool of choice – try using soft brush attachment to avoid damaging the surface.
Once you have given your wood floor a once over with the vacuum, you will need two further cleaning tools to remove any stains or spills – a damp microfiber mop and your chosen cleaning spray. Water is a foe to wooden floors and must be avoided at all costs to ensure it does not warp. Spills should be cleaned up immediately, and careful consideration should be taken when selecting a chemical cleaner. Wax-based cleaners and harsh detergents should never be used and your mop should always be damp. A steam mop is another foe of wooden floors as the steam permeates the floor and causes long-term damage. A final rinse with clean water and your wooden floor should be looking brand new.
How to protect your wood flooring?
Although wooden floors are extremely durable, small scratches and dents are inevitable. There are many ways you can protect your floor and avoid any unwanted and unnecessary damage.
Removing footwear
Always removing any footwear is a quick win to alleviate dirt and grit from scratching your wooden floor. High-heels are the main culprit for causing dents and scratches to the top layer of wood flooring.
Keeping your pets nails trimmed
Your pets may not be wearing shoes, but their sharp nails can also cause scratches. Try to keep your furry friends’ nails trimmed.
Avoiding excessive sunlight with curtains and blinds
As delightful as sunlight can be – especially when winter has been particularly harsh – it can actually be dangerous to your wooden flooring. As like most other flooring types, if exposed to excessive sunlight wood flooring can be prone to fading and discoloration. In order to reduce the exposure to direct sunlight, curtains and blinds are a good solution. They are an inexpensive way to limit direct sunlight, whilst adding a homely feel to your rooms.
Avoiding excessive sunlight with a rug
Another cozy accessory that is multifunctional is a rug. A rug can be placed over those sections of wooden floor that are over exposed to direct sunlight. A rug can also be continuously circulated around sections of the wooden floor, to ensure an even level of sunlight is received and an even colour is maintained.
Felt furniture tips
Furniture is another offender when it comes to scratching or denting your wooden floor. Not to worry, there is a very simple solution – felt furniture tips. These tips are composed of non-damaging adhesive that cushion sections of furniture that come into direct contact with flooring. Although these attachable tips work well in protecting your wooden floor, when moving furniture it is always best to lift rather than drag it across the floor just in case an adhesive tip has come loose.
Here at Donnelly Watson, we stock a wide range of wood flooring. Our flooring experts can give you personalised advice on how to maximise the potential of your wood flooring. Get in touch today to find out more.