How to keep your wood floors looking great

Newly installed wood floors look stunning in any home, but how do you keep them looking great?

Solid wood

If you have invested in a beautiful, durable solid wood floor, it’s a good idea to maintain it properly from the start, so it will last you for decades.  As with any flooring, the more you can do to prevent damage, the better.  Use protective pads under furniture wherever possible so they don’t leave scratch marks.  Door mats are also great to use by exterior doors to keep as much dirt off the floor as possible, especially if you have small children and pets.  Make sure wet boots and shoes are kept off the floor as much as you can to maintain a dry environment inside.

For everyday cleaning, just brush the floor with a soft broom or dustpan and brush, to get rid of dirt and dust.  Then use a vacuum cleaner once a week.  Don’t use any attachments such as beater bars or hard brushes, as they are more likely to leave scratches.

Try not to mop too often, around once a month, as you want to keep the floor as dry as possible to avoid any warping.  When you do need to mop, use hot water as it will quickly evaporate.  A microfiber mop is best as it is soft and designed not to leave any streaks.  Spray mops are also good as long as you ensure the area is thoroughly dry afterwards.

Spills will happen, especially in the kitchen, so just make sure they are dealt with as soon as possible to keep the floor dry.  Wipe them up quickly with a microfiber cloth to avoid stains.

Wear and tear inevitably happens over the years and for the most part will add character to your floor.  If there are any really deep scratches or marks that bother you, you can have them sanded away.  When the shine of the floor starts to fade, use wax to renew it (usually only every few years) if you like a high sheen effect.  Solid wood floors can be refinished or resurfaced if they get badly damaged over time, but prevention is always better and cheaper.

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Engineered wood

Engineered wood floors are usually made up of a layer of real wood on the surface with a protective seal on top, and layers of plywood beneath.  This construction makes the flooring more stable and able to cope with differing temperatures.

The cleaning process is very similar to that of a solid wood floor.  It is important to use soft materials, like microfiber cloths and brushes with soft bristles, to avoid scratching the floor.  Sweep daily (or as often as you need) to deal with dirt and dust.  Use a vacuum cleaner once a week but make sure it is either a special one for wood floors, or set to the bare floor setting, ie no attachments like beater bars.  If you have a roomba, make sure it has rubber wheels, not metals or stiff brushes underneath.

Mop weekly with warm water, either with a microfiber mop or spray mop.  Make sure the mop is damp, not soaking wet, to keep excess moisture away.  Also ensure that is it thoroughly dry before anyone walks on it.

Clean up spills as soon as possible and use all the preventative measures you can, like pads under furniture, doormats and removing shoes.

Engineered floors can only be refinished if they have a top wear layer that is over 3mm thick.  It cannot be sanded like a solid wood floor, but instead scratches can be concealed.  For this, you can use a floor repair wax kit or a felt tip pen that matches the floor colour.

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Imitation wood

Laminate and vinyl are both great options for a lower cost, durable imitation wood floor.  They are easy to clean and maintain but need different cleaning methods to real wood.

Laminate is hard-wearing and resilient but cannot be refinished, so it is important to prevent damage from occurring.  Don’t let spills sit, clean them up immediately with a cloth and don’t wear high heels on the flooring.  Although laminate is less susceptible to scratching, it is hard to get rid of any marks.  If they do happen, a good tip is to use a tennis ball to try and remove them.  To clean, use a soft broom or brush to sweep, or a vacuum with no attachments.  Mopping should be done infrequently, around once a month or every two months, to avoid water seeping into the seams.  Use a microfiber mop if possible, or if you are using a normal mop make sure you wring it out until it is nearly dry before using it on the floor.  Avoid any oil based cleaning products and never wax laminate or use polish on it.  There are special laminate cleaning products available.

Vinyl is resilient, low maintenance and in many cases, waterproof.  Use preventative measures as with other types of flooring, like furniture pads, doormats and removing shoes. Regular sweeping and vacuuming will take care of the majority of the cleaning, and make sure to clean spills up with a cloth as soon as you can to avoid staining.  Mopping is easy with vinyl, just use a mop with warm water and liquid detergent.  It is resistant to water and stains, so you don’t need to worry about it drying quickly, as it won’t warp when exposed to excessive water.

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Whatever look you want to achieve in your home, we can help with all your flooring and carpet needs.  Contact us here to book a free estimate with our friendly and professional Herts Carpets team today!

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