tomarnidhi
Well-known member
Wooden flooring is one of the most practical and popular forms of home improvements today that offer the luxury of choice and an ease of integration.
They not only add style but also adds great aesthetic appeal and provides an air of class and elegance. However, proper care and maintenance is needed especially during seasonal changes for preserving the beauty of your wooden floors.
While enjoying the warm and sunny days of the summer season, one has to look out for the hazards of wooden flooring installed to prevent them from wearing out. Maintenance during summer is important to ensure it lasts longer. Even the most carefully installed wood floors tend to expand and sometimes cup or even buckle due to high moisture content and high relative humidity in the air.
Here we give you some tips to maintain wooden flooring installed during the season.
Dos
- Vacuuming is preferable to sweeping because it allows the dirt and dust to be pulled from between the boards.
- Use a vacuum with a bare floor attachment, not a vacuum beater bar which can damage the wood.
- Use sheers or blinds to protect your floors from the discoloration caused by direct sun rays which helps in reducing oxidation and aging of wood.
- A de-humidifier will absorb the moisture in the air and help maintain a more agreeable indoor humidity level for your floors. This will help minimize the risk of floor warping.
- The worst enemies of your hardwood floor are grit, sand and dirt. These three act like sandpaper grinding, scraping and dulling the shiny surface until it becomes ugly. Use small mats near outside doors to prevent the dirt getting further into your house.
- Attach glue felt pads to the legs of furniture and chairs to avoid scraping the floor when objects are moved. Periodically examine the pads for wear and replace when needed. Avoid rolling chairs with casters on the finished surface as they may scratch the finish.
Don'ts
- Never use wax, detergents or any other oil-based soap on the floor. These may damage the finish of the floor making it slippery and difficult to maintain later on.
- Mixtures of water and vinegar are not recommended for cleaning hardwood flooring, since vinegar will have an oxidizing effect on the floor over a long period of time.
- Never clean your floor directly with water. You can use a damp cloth to wipe up spills but never pour water directly on the floor to 'mop' the floor.
- Using regular household dusting and cleaning products. They will cause permanent damage. Use only products specifically designed for hardwood.
Wooden flooring can be an integral part of your home making it beautiful and well lived in. With their natural beauty and inherent characteristics, hardwood floors can even make average interiors look extraordinary.
They not only add style but also adds great aesthetic appeal and provides an air of class and elegance. However, proper care and maintenance is needed especially during seasonal changes for preserving the beauty of your wooden floors.
While enjoying the warm and sunny days of the summer season, one has to look out for the hazards of wooden flooring installed to prevent them from wearing out. Maintenance during summer is important to ensure it lasts longer. Even the most carefully installed wood floors tend to expand and sometimes cup or even buckle due to high moisture content and high relative humidity in the air.
Here we give you some tips to maintain wooden flooring installed during the season.
Dos
- Vacuuming is preferable to sweeping because it allows the dirt and dust to be pulled from between the boards.
- Use a vacuum with a bare floor attachment, not a vacuum beater bar which can damage the wood.
- Use sheers or blinds to protect your floors from the discoloration caused by direct sun rays which helps in reducing oxidation and aging of wood.
- A de-humidifier will absorb the moisture in the air and help maintain a more agreeable indoor humidity level for your floors. This will help minimize the risk of floor warping.
- The worst enemies of your hardwood floor are grit, sand and dirt. These three act like sandpaper grinding, scraping and dulling the shiny surface until it becomes ugly. Use small mats near outside doors to prevent the dirt getting further into your house.
- Attach glue felt pads to the legs of furniture and chairs to avoid scraping the floor when objects are moved. Periodically examine the pads for wear and replace when needed. Avoid rolling chairs with casters on the finished surface as they may scratch the finish.
Don'ts
- Never use wax, detergents or any other oil-based soap on the floor. These may damage the finish of the floor making it slippery and difficult to maintain later on.
- Mixtures of water and vinegar are not recommended for cleaning hardwood flooring, since vinegar will have an oxidizing effect on the floor over a long period of time.
- Never clean your floor directly with water. You can use a damp cloth to wipe up spills but never pour water directly on the floor to 'mop' the floor.
- Using regular household dusting and cleaning products. They will cause permanent damage. Use only products specifically designed for hardwood.
Wooden flooring can be an integral part of your home making it beautiful and well lived in. With their natural beauty and inherent characteristics, hardwood floors can even make average interiors look extraordinary.
