Those who have homes with hardwood floors understand the challenges involved in keeping the flooring clean during the winter months. Holiday time calls for cleaning, mostly because all types of moisture are tracked into your home during these wet, drippy months. When approaching the cleaning task for wooden flooring, remember that the type of finish determines how you should clean it. The type of wood makes little difference in the cleaning job. Surface-sealed floors should be cleaned differently than all other types, though there are about a half-dozen common floor finishes in use today. You need to maintain your wooden flooring in order to make it last a long time and shine as it should.
Not all floors are protected in the same way of course. Almost all newer floors are surface-sealed with urethane, polyurethane, or polycyclic coatings. If one of these three finishes is not used, then the floor is very likely penetrating-seal-treated or oil-treated. In addition, if your hardwood floor has yet another type of finish, then it is lacquered, shellacked, or varnished. Moreover, there are untreated wood floors but you will likely not run into very many these days. Whatever type of flooring finish you have, make sure to clean it regularly.
When you begin the cleaning process during the holidays, or anytime, use only the cleansers that are recommended by your floor care professional. If you use something else, it will possibly void the warranty that came with your floor. For surface-sealed floors, don't use oils, waxes, or any types of furniture sprays. Even water and vinegar are not good for them. Instead, use what the care manual recommends.
Winter cleaning for your floor can be a challenge, especially with all the snow, ice, mud, and salty sleet that comes in on kids' shoes and pets' paws. Use a damp mop to do routine maintenance jobs. You should try to sweep once every day, and wet mop once per week. In areas that get nearly no traffic, however, you can just do a quick mopping every thirty days or so. Never use a soaking wet mop on a wooden floor, even a sealed one. Wood and water are enemies, so it's best to keep them apart at all times. Instead of a wet mop, use a slightly damp one to get up light dirt and grime. Regular maintenance is the key to a great wooden floor.
If you see scuff marks on your floor, just use a tiny pinch of baking soda on a moist sponge to get them up. Don't rub too hard. You need to allow time for the baking soda to do its magic. If you have food or other types of stains on your wood floor, go ahead and use a commercial cleanser as long as it does not contain any chemicals that might void your warranty. And when it comes to hairline cracks in the floor, keep in mind that they are seasonal and will likely close up during the summer's more moist months.
Not all floors are protected in the same way of course. Almost all newer floors are surface-sealed with urethane, polyurethane, or polycyclic coatings. If one of these three finishes is not used, then the floor is very likely penetrating-seal-treated or oil-treated. In addition, if your hardwood floor has yet another type of finish, then it is lacquered, shellacked, or varnished. Moreover, there are untreated wood floors but you will likely not run into very many these days. Whatever type of flooring finish you have, make sure to clean it regularly.
When you begin the cleaning process during the holidays, or anytime, use only the cleansers that are recommended by your floor care professional. If you use something else, it will possibly void the warranty that came with your floor. For surface-sealed floors, don't use oils, waxes, or any types of furniture sprays. Even water and vinegar are not good for them. Instead, use what the care manual recommends.
Winter cleaning for your floor can be a challenge, especially with all the snow, ice, mud, and salty sleet that comes in on kids' shoes and pets' paws. Use a damp mop to do routine maintenance jobs. You should try to sweep once every day, and wet mop once per week. In areas that get nearly no traffic, however, you can just do a quick mopping every thirty days or so. Never use a soaking wet mop on a wooden floor, even a sealed one. Wood and water are enemies, so it's best to keep them apart at all times. Instead of a wet mop, use a slightly damp one to get up light dirt and grime. Regular maintenance is the key to a great wooden floor.
If you see scuff marks on your floor, just use a tiny pinch of baking soda on a moist sponge to get them up. Don't rub too hard. You need to allow time for the baking soda to do its magic. If you have food or other types of stains on your wood floor, go ahead and use a commercial cleanser as long as it does not contain any chemicals that might void your warranty. And when it comes to hairline cracks in the floor, keep in mind that they are seasonal and will likely close up during the summer's more moist months.
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