Hardwood floors bring out a classic beauty in almost any house. The flow of the wood grain, the shine of the finish and the feel of natural materials can truly give a house the warm feeling of a home.
However, some hardwood floor owners fail to understand why their floors lose their luster after a few months or years. These owners may fail to understand the time and effort required to keep those floors looking as beautiful as the day they were installed.
DO – Prevent Scratches
Even a small scratch can ruin the look and feel of a hardwood floor. You can place felt furniture pads between the furniture legs and the hardwood floors. These pads can protect your hardwood floors from scuff marks when moving or rearranging furniture. Area rugs in high-traffic areas can also prevent scuffs and scrapes.
DON’T – Use Harsh Cleaners
The cleaning chemicals used on tile or vinyl surfaces can be harmful to hardwood floors. Chlorine bleach can harm the wood. Abrasive cleaners can cause small scratches. Furniture polish can leave a filmy residue. Water and vinegar solutions can fade out the wood’s finish. Even mopping with excessive amounts of water can cause bubbling. The experts at Direct Source Flooring can help you find the best cleaning agents for hardwood floors.
DO – Control Humidity
Even in cooler climates, high humidity can damage hardwood floors. The natural material soaks up water in the air, which can lead to warping or bubbling along the seams between the planks. A reliable air conditioning system uses its condenser motor to extract moisture from the air. In drier climates, hardwood planks can buckle and pull apart from lack of moisture. A portable humidifier can bring the humidity up to healthy levels.
DON’T – Use Wax-Based Cleaners
Some wax-based cleaners claim that they “make wood beautiful.” While that may be true for wood furniture, it doesn’t hold for hardwood floors. Most hardwood floors have a urethane finish, designed to protect the floor from scuffs and scrapes. Wax-based cleaners leave a layer of sticky residue over the protective finish. The layer of residue can pick up scratches and scuffs much easier than the urethane finish, defeating its purpose.
Call Direct Source Flooring
The experts at Direct Source Flooring have decades of experience with installing, cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors. Call us today at 281-734-7574 to set an appointment and get the quality hardwood floor you want with the professional help you need.