Explore this Article
(Image Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-wooden-floor-48889/)
Hardwood floors are beautiful, but they come with their fair share of issues if not properly cleaned and maintained.
Unlike carpet or tile, hardwood is susceptible to damages from dirt, water, and excess foot traffic. To extend the life of your floors, you need to commit to a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule.
Here are some quick tips for cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors
Tip 1: If You Can, Sweep Daily
The best thing you can do to keep your hardwood floors clean is to sweep daily. Even with low traffic areas, dust and dirt accumulate quickly and can cause surface-level scratches very easily on hardwood floors.
By doing a quick sweep every day, you keep the dirt to a minimum, which not only keeps your floors looking clean but helps prevent scratches that can deepen over time.
Tip 2: Vacuum At Least Once Per Week
As with sweeping, vacuuming helps to lessen dirt buildup. If you can, vacuum at least once per week, but make sure you have a vacuum that is designed to be used on hardwood floors.
Some vacuums have rough brushes that can cause more damage than they do good. If you don’t have time to commit to vacuuming once a week, you can opt for a robot vacuum for hardwood floors, like the ones found here. These incredible gadgets will clean your floors for you, without much effort on your part.
Tip 3: Don’t Use a Wet Mop
Experts recommend that you never use moisture on the hardwood. The moisture can seep into the wood, causing it to swell and eventually buckle. This can lead to costly flooring replacements earlier than needed.
Instead, use something like a Swiffer or a dry mop on your hardwood floors. This will get them clean and shiny without running the risk of causing damage.
Tip 4: Resurface Every 10 Years
Replacing hardwood floors can cost thousands of dollars. Resurfacing your floors once every ten years can dramatically extend their life.
Unless you have experience resurfacing hardwood floors, always hire an expert for this. It requires moving furniture, sanding, and replacing the surface layer of the floors.
If done incorrectly, you can ruin your floors.
Tip 5: Clean Messes Quickly
If you see a spill on your hardwood floors, you need to jump on it immediately. Unlike other hard floors like tile or laminate, hardwood will absorb what is spilled on it.
This means that if you spill water, juice, or if your dog has an accident on the floors, they will absorb the moisture and the odors in a similar way that carpet does. This causes long term damage if not cleaned up quickly.
Wrapping It All Up
Hardwood floors are beautiful, and if properly maintained, they can raise the resale value of your home and last for 50 or more years.
With these hardwood cleaning tips, you can guarantee that your floors will last for years to come.
I am Bhagwati Suthar, Founder of Jobiba & TezLife.com. I am a Blogger, Affiliate Marketer and a Digital Marketer from Udaipur, India. At JobibaBlog, We share articles about Blogging, Marketing & Advertising, Business and Tech Tips.
