Installing hardwood flooring in your home is an investment, and you want to make sure that you’re protecting it. While you can select a hardwood that can be very durable, this doesn’t mean it will be indestructible. It’s our goal to educate you on the best methods for protecting your flooring so that it always look it’s best.
Here is some easy advice for hardwood floor maintenance to make sure your flooring stays looking great.
Maintain Your Home’s Environment
There are a lot of factors that can go into maintaining your beautiful hardwoods, but the most important factor is the environment in your home. Hardwood flooring can be very sensitive to both temperature and humidity levels, and without controlling these conditions, your hardwood flooring can experience a deal of damage over time.
Make sure that you’re maintaining a moderate temperature and that you’re using a humidity monitor so that the air in your home isn’t too moist or too dry.
If the temperature in your home is too cool, and the air is too dry, you might get shrinking or splitting. On the other hand, if your home is warm and humid, you might see expanding and buckling.
Keeping the right temperature and humidity in rooms with hardwoods will make a huge difference to the appearance of your hardwoods over time.
Everyday Protection
Hardwood flooring can last a lifetime and in many cases even looks better as time goes on. To insure the longevity and beauty of your floor, there are a few measures you can take that will help protect the wood’s natural beauty and strength.
First, with hardwoods you never want to let spills wait, once they dry it can be hard to remove, or they can penetrate the wood surface and lead to damaged boards. Make sure you clean up spills as soon as they happen and dry all the cleaned areas completely when you are done.
Second, laying down mats at the entrances of your home, and any other area that experiences a large amount of foot traffic, is a great idea. This will effectively protect your flooring from long-term wear and can also work to prevent moisture damage.
Finally, if you’re going to place furniture on your flooring, it is best to use felt pads under the furniture. These pads will stop the furniture from scratching your floor.
Tips for Cleaning
If you want your hardwood flooring to look and perform as designed, you’ll need to clean periodically. However, cleaning the wrong way can do more harm than good. For instance, harsh chemical cleaners can seriously damage your hardwood flooring, potentially stripping your finish. You will want to use a cleaner that is specifically designed for the type of finish your hardwood has. One of our favorites for newer flooring is Mohawk Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner.
You should also be sure that the cleaning cloth you’re using isn’t abrasive. To avoid scratching, you need to use a soft cloth that will be gentle on your floor. Lastly, don’t mop your floor with water, as this can cause moisture damage. Instead, clean with a small amount of cleaner and immediately wipe the cleaner up.
Wait! I Haven’t Purchased My Hardwoods Yet. What is the Best Option for a Durable Hardwood?
Solid hardwood has been around for centuries, but it’s not always perfect for modern life. That’s why we offer a wide range of engineered hardwood options. Engineered hardwood flooring is real hardwood – made from several wood layers glued together and topped with a solid, 100% hardwood face. This gives you the look and feel of solid hardwood, without many of the compromises it often presents.
WHY ENGINEERED HARDWOOD IS A SMART CHOICE:
• Usually more cost effective
• Often more stable and durable than solid wood
• Less prone to shrinking, expanding, and shifting
• Can be installed in a wide variety of methods and applications
• Available in more species, style, width, and color options than solid wood
• Can be refinished
At Christian Flooring, we love engineered hardwood and many of our staff chose it for their own homes, but whether you choose engineered hardwood or another type of the many hardwoods out there, if you follow the tips we outlined, you are going down a great path for healthy happy flooring. It’s Your Home. Expect the best.
