Hardwood Floor Maintenance

November 25, 2024 Post a Comment

Hardwood floor maintenance

Routine cleaning involves sweeping, dust mopping, or vacuuming using the bare floor setting to remove dust and dirt. Clean spills immediately with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Don't use wet mops or steam mops, which will damage the finish and the wood over long periods of time.

How do I keep my hardwood floors looking new?

Maintain Your Floors

Sweep, dust or dry mop daily.
Vacuum weekly.
Clean heavy-traffic areas with a damp mop twice a month.
Clean with recommended hardwood floor cleaner once a month.
Apply a fresh coat of finish every three to five years.
Sand and refinish every 10 years.

How often should wood floors be mopped?

In high-traffic areas, like the dining room and kitchen, sweep or vacuum daily if possible and mop hardwood floors once or twice a week. Mop less-trafficked areas once a month or once a season.

Is hardwood hard to maintain?

Hardwood floors are not low maintenance by any stretch of the imagination. They require regular sweeping and cleaning to prevent surface damage and to keep them looking nice. And you need to clean them with products that won't damage the finish, and be extra careful with water.

What will ruin hardwood floors?

8 Ways You're Destroying Your Hardwood Floors

Using the Wrong Cleaner & Supplies.
Using a Steam Mop. ...
High Heels & Things That Squeal. ...
Using a Vacuum Without a Wood Floor Attachment. ...
Area Rugs with Rubber Backing. ...
Too Much Sunshine (Yes, It's a Thing) ...
Applying Wax to a Urethane Finish. ...
Waiting Too Long to Refinish.

How often should hardwood floors be refinished?

Hardwood floors can be refinished every 7-10 years, making the 4-6 refinishes more than enough.

Is it OK to mop wood floors with water?

Do mop a wood floor with a damp mop or cloth. String mops are less common these days, and that's not a bad thing for cleaning wood floors. They can be tough to evenly wring out and use. Microfiber cloths are great for using with wood flooring.

Is it better to sweep or vacuum hardwood floors?

Certain types of hardwood floors scratch easily. There are floors that are made from more “hard” wood and those might be able to handle a vacuum, but we don't think it's worth the risk. For that reason, we usually recommend that you sweep hardwood floors.

Is Murphy's oil soap good for wood floors?

Do not clean the floor with furniture polish, vinegar, ammonia, pine cleaners, or Murphy's Oil Soap. Those cleaners may dull or even damage the finish and will create problems when your floor needs recoating.

Is Bona good for hardwood floors?

Bona is safe for all unwaxed, unoiled, polyurethane-finished wood floors. It's a water-based, pet-safe, pH-neutral formula. It doesn't leave a residue and dries in about a minute and a half.

Can you use Dawn dish soap on hardwood floors?

Dish soap is a gentle cleaner that won't damage the natural wood, and it's perfect for light jobs and daily upkeep alike. In a large bucket, mix two to three tablespoons of dish soap with one gallon of warm water.

How often should you use Bona on hardwood floors?

Bona's range of specially-formulated polishes can be used several times a year. How often you use it will depend entirely on the amount of traffic your floor undergoes, but typical homeowner floor-maintenance is about every two-to-four months.

What is a disadvantage of hardwood?

Slow growth rate: Hardwood forests take longer to replenish due to the tree's slower growth rate. Workability: Due to its density, hardwood tends to be a lot harder to work with during construction. Cost: Hardwoods are generally more expensive, however in saying this, you get what you pay for.

What is the lifespan of hardwood?

Hardwood floors are universally recognized as one of the longest-lasting flooring options. When cared for properly, hardwood can last anywhere from 80-100 years.

Are rugs necessary on hardwood floors?

In theory, area rugs protect your hardwood floors by taking the brunt of the daily traffic, furniture shuffling and the like. That's all true — area rugs prevent sunlight damage, furniture scratches, debris, dust and water from outdoors, etc.

Can I use a Swiffer on hardwood floors?

Unlike carpeting that collects allergens* and keeps them around, hardwood floors can be easily wiped clean of dust and allergens*. Keeping a Swiffer Sweeper handy can help remove pollen from your floors.

Does mopping damage hardwood floors?

Before you go further with cleaning, now's the time to check that your hardwoods are sealed. If they are, a little wet mopping from time to time is okay. But if not, wet mopping can harm your floors since there's no barrier to stop water from soaking the wood.

What not to do with hardwood floors?

DON'T: Clean with hot water. If letting water stand on real wood flooring is bad, using hot water to clean does the same amount of damage. Hot water can dissolve over time the luster of your floors finish and penetrates the wood a lot easier than cold. DON'T: Use oil, wax or citrus based cleaner.

How do you tell if my hardwood floors are sealed?

To tell the difference in a pinch, just rub your finger across the floor. Be sure to do this on a clean floor. If no smudge appears, the floor is surface sealed. If you do create a smudge, the floor has been treated with a penetrating seal, oil finish, shellac, varnish or lacquer, and then waxed.

How much should I expect to pay to refinish hardwood floors?

Flooring pros usually charge $3 to $8 per square foot, so a single bedroom could cost $300 to $800, while a whole home will range from $2,400 to $6,000. These costs vary based on the following factors: Size: The more square footage that needs refinishing, the more it will cost.