Hardwood Floor Maintenance

When it comes to cleaning a wood floor, however, there is some debate as to the proper method. Some professionals advocate damp mopping and others don’t. If your floor is well sealed, using a damp mop shouldn’t be a problem. Sometimes mopping is the only way to get the level of cleaning you need.

When damp mopping, it’s important to wring as much of the liquid from the mop as possible. You never want puddles of water sitting on your hardwood floors. Use a pH wood cleaner and water solution on your floors. Be careful what products you choose, and if in doubt, check with your floors manufacturer or a flooring specialist for guidance. Using the wrong cleaning products can damage your floors finish.

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One surefire way to restore the luster of old wood floors is to apply a floor polish or wax. There is some debate about whether wax on floors is more harmful than good, however. Wax can make it more difficult to refinish floors in the future, but a “maintenance coat,” as it is called, does have its advantages. Waxed floors are easy to clean and can be buffed or rewaxed to make them look new. Still, if your floors have a surface finish like polyurethane or water-based urethane, think twice before applying a wax unless the finish is in bad shape and you can’t afford to refinish it.

Part of good care for hardwood floors involves removing stains. Stains are an inevitable part of life, and it pays to know what to do when they occur. The type of finish your floor has will affect how you treat stains, however the general process is similar. If your floor has a wax finish, rub off the stain with steel wool working from the outside of the stain inwards. If the stain is more persistent, you may need to use floor cleaner and/or fine sandpaper. When the stain is removed, reapply wax and polish. If you have used floor cleaner, be sure to wash it off the floor before waxing.

If your floor has a surface finish, you will need to treat the whole board(s) the stain is on in order to keep the color consistent. Use sandpaper or steel wool to remove the finish, then thoroughly clear away all of the dust that is generated. Reapply the same finish that was originally on the floor to the affected boards. Make sure you don’t overlap on the adjacent boards or the finish will be uneven. Though the process isn’t terribly challenging, if you are uncomfortable with it, consult a flooring professional for guidance or assistance

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