Hardwood floors are a great choice as an attractive and durable surface yet require specific care to keep them looking shiny and new. Services that offer professional house cleaning are educated in the different types of flooring surfaces and know the best ways to clean hardwood floors. Consider the following tips to help keep your floors in the top condition.

Preventing Excess Wear

Even though hardwood floors are usually coated to keep them shiny and reduce damage, they are still much softer than most other flooring materials, which makes them susceptible to wear. Walking on the same areas over and over can create wear spots, which is one of a number of ways that hardwood floors are damaged. Preventing damage when house cleaning should be a priority to keep floors looking their best. Following are some methods of protecting hardwood flooring:

Runners, Rugs and Mats – In areas with heavy traffic, covering floors with decorative rugs and mats is an easy way to prevent damage. For day-to-day use, they can be invaluable in preserving flooring and can always be removed for special occasions. Keep rugs and runners clean during regular house cleaning by vacuuming so dirt cannot make its way through the nap and create a sandpaper effect underneath.
Furniture Pads – Every time someone sits in a chair or closes a door on a hutch, the furniture moves a little. This is evidenced by the small worn spots that can appear beneath furniture legs after a few years. Applying felt pads to the bottoms of furniture prevents this.
Wipe Up Spills Immediately – Wood is absorbent, so any liquid that is spilled can soak into the grain. This can cause swelling, warping, and other permanent damage.

Gentle Cleaning

Overzealous attempts to clean a hardwood floor can have the opposite effect. To reduce house cleaning time to a minimum and still get great results, the following steps can keep hardwoods looking clean and shiny:

Sweep and Vacuum – As part of regular house cleaning, sweep daily with a soft broom or vacuum bi-weekly to keep delicate surfaces free of dirt, dust, hair, and other things that collect and cause wear.
Damp Mop Only – Wet mopping should never be done on hardwood flooring. Mop only with warm water and a barely-wet damp mop. This is adequate to clean the surface and bring back the natural shine hidden by dirt. When house cleaning, use a mop without metal parts, preferably one made of soft cotton. A cotton dishcloth wrapped around the end of a broom handle is gentle enough and works great.
Avoid Chemical Cleaners – Wood is an organic material that decomposes when exposed to harsh chemicals. Sweeping and vacuuming regularly, along with warm, damp mopping is all any hardwood floor needs. Even oil-based wood soaps should be avoided as they tend to build up over time, causing a surface to look dirtier and then require professional stripping and sealing.

It does not take much to keep a hardwood floor looking great. Unfortunately, many people do more than necessary, damaging the floors in the process. Do regular house cleaning with a broom and damp mop. Hardwood floors that remain dull or scuffed may benefit from a professional sanding and polishing. A few minutes a day and some TLC is all any wood surface needs to look beautiful for a very long time!

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