Caring for your hardwood floor

Having a home with a hardwood floor is something many of us dream of. Hardwood flooring is warm, rich and naturally beautiful. These days hardwood flooring is available in a wide variety and one is able to choose everything from the colour, to the texture to the final finish. Once you have had hardwood flooring installed there are simple steps you can take to maintain and care for it so that it retains it’s beauty for a long time to come. In this article we are going to pass on some tips on how to care for hardwood flooring:

• Grit made up of particles of dirt and dust can really damage the finish of the floor. It can make the flooring look dull and might even leave a scratch. So, the first tip is to keep it dirt-free. Mop and vacuum the floor often and keep them clean. It is a also a good idea to place door mats at the entrance of the house so that most of the dirt is left trapped on them and does not get a chance to settle on the floor.
• Never ever allow a spill to stand on your hardwood floor. If you end up spilling water or any other liquid on the floor make sure you wipe it immediately first with a moist cloth and then with a dry one. Moisture and hardwood flooring do not go well together, so never allow any kind of moisture to stand on the floor for too long.
• When moving furniture, be careful and always lift it as opposed to dragging. Dragging furniture can cause the floor to scratch and damage it’s appearance. A good option is to use felt casters or glides on all furniture legs that come in contact with the floor. This will prevent marking.
• Be careful with your choice of cleaners. A cleaner that is specifically made for hardwood flooring is ideal as opposed to any random soap- based product. Using very harsh cleaners can damage the top finish of the flooring and make it wear out faster. Any product with a neutral pH should be work well but also keep in mind not to use it excessively.
• While vacuuming use a brush attachment and avoid using vacuums with beater brushes. This can again lead to scratches. Also, use a fine broom with exploded ends or a good quality cotton mop.
• Try and control the humidity in the house and maintain it to about 45 to 55%. Too much humidity can lead to the floors to swell that can in turn lead to cracks. At the same time excessive dryness can cause separations. So it is imperative to maintain a balanced temperature.
• Too much exposure to the sun can cause discolouration of your hardwood flooring. Hence, try and shield your floor from direct sunlight.
• Be mindful of what sort of footwear you are using on your hardwood floor. It is best to actually leave shoes outside the house but if that is not possible then at least try and avoid high heels or shoes with deep treads. Spiky shoes can cause indent marks on the floor and damage it to a great deal.

Follow the abovementioned tips and see your hardwood floor shine and look beautiful for years and years.