Hardwood floors are an almost automatic property value-boosting flooring choice. They’re gorgeous, feel nice to walk on, and they’re timeless. There are a few things you should know before purchasing a home with hardwood floors or when opting to have them installed. They require fairly regular maintenance, but it’s nothing impossible. Let’s review the basic maintenance tasks every solid hardwood floor owner should be doing.
VACUUMING
Vacuuming is essential to keeping your hardwood looking new. When many people think of vacuums, they tend to think only about carpeting. This is not the case! There are many small rocks and bits of trash that can really damage your hardwood floors over time. These little pieces slowly grind into the wood with repeated foot traffic. Be sure to vacuum once a week on the floor setting to reduce the chances of scratching.
SPILLS
This tip almost goes without saying, but it’s crucial that you clean up any spills immediately. You’ll want to keep the area as dry as possible. We don’t recommend any wet cleaning products such as wet rags or mops. The longer the area of hardwood stays wet, the higher the likelihood that the wood will become damaged and warped over time. It’s important to keep your home’s humidity not too high and to always remove wet shoes or boots when coming inside from the outdoors.
SWEEPING
In many cases, you can get away with sweeping your floor once a day. This is to get rid of some of the more simple bits of dust and debris that tend to accumulate throughout the day. For your sweeping tool, you can use an old-fashioned straw broom, a more modern plastic broom, or even a dry mop. Since you’ll be vacuuming regularly, you don’t need to put in a huge amount of effort into sweeping beyond collecting visible debris and dust that may scratch your hardwood floors.
FURNITURE PADS
Furniture pads are so, so important. Many people forget to use these if their furniture isn’t particularly loud when the furniture’s feet slide across the floor. Even if your furniture is completely silent without the pads, chances are that it’s slowly scratching and eroding at the finish of your hardwood. If your floors aren’t properly finished, then the furniture is directly scratching away your hardwood. These little felt pads are cheap, can be purchased online or at many home stores, and are perfect for keeping your hardwood looking brand new.
FLOOR CLEANER
When it comes to floor cleaners, you’ll want to be very careful. There are a lot of floor cleaners out there that say they are fine for almost any surface, but you’ll want to take extra precautions with your wood floor investment. Be sure to only purchase a cleaner that is specifically made for wood flooring. Those online make-it-yourself floor cleaner recipes? You’ll want to avoid those, as many suggest using vinegar and lemon juice. These will make your floor look great in the short term, but since they are both acidic, your floor will begin to erode quicker than you’d like.
FINAL WORD ON HARDWOOD MAINTENANCE
Hardwood floors are a great investment in your home. There’s no doubt about it. There is a decent amount of maintenance you’ll need to do in order to keep them looking brand new, but it’s completely worth it. By applying a maintenance coat every 3-5 years, you’ll greatly prolong the life of your hardwood floor in Fort Collins. When it’s time for a refresher, you can always sand and refinish them roughly every 5-10 years. Contact our friendly Element team today to get started with your next hardwood floor in Northern Colorado!
