So, the big day has come and gone. Those beautiful hardwood floors you always dreamed about have finally been installed, and you are basking in the satisfaction of a completed task. Yet, the next question that comes to mind is, how do you take care of these floors? How do you keep them looking as beautiful and new as the day they were installed? Here are a few pointers.
General precautions in hardwood maintenance
One of the most common causes of scratching on hardwood flooring is from sliding chairs back and forth from the dining room table. A simple solution is to pick up a set of felt pads that can go on the feet. They make sliding back and forth easier, and they won’t scratch the flooring. If you are curious, we carry these pads in our showroom in a variety of different sizes. One of our sales associates can point you in the right direction.
Don’t let water sit on the wood floors. The finish is strong, but wood is still made up of cells that will absorb water. Whether it is from a spill or perhaps from your umbrella on a rainy day, one of the most practical things you can do is to dry your floor off immediately. If your floor is near the front door, consider a small area rug that can capture rainwater before it gets onto your floor.
Finally, sweep regularly. Both solid and engineered wood flooring is manufactured with bevels on the edges. Those bevels are a common location for dust or particles of food to build up. The simple solution is to sweep them up. While dust will not hurt your floor, it will not let your floor look its best.
Ongoing hardwood flooring care
Periodically use a quality wood cleaner on your floor. Also, don’t just get any wood floor cleaner at the store as some will harm your new floor's finish. Our sales associates can help you determine which cleaner is rated for your brand and type of flooring. To make your life easier, we also carry these cleaners in our showroom.
How often is ‘periodically’? Some of that depends on the amount of traffic your floor gets. If you have wood floors in an entryway that receives a lot of traffic, you may want to use a cleaner weekly. If your hardwood flooring is in a formal area that you don’t use as often, you might reduce this to a monthly or a quarterly practice. Finally, listen to your gut. If you are thinking that the hardwood is not looking its best, go ahead and clean it. The modern cleaners will not create a film or harm the finish on your hardwood.
Ask about our hardwood refinishing service
Some people will tell you to refinish your hardwood floors every so many years. At Massud & Son Floor Covering, we suggest that you refinish when the floor is getting worn, and you cannot restore the finish with cleaning. If that is your need, we will be happy to help you do so.
At Massud & Son Floor Covering, we desire that your hardwood give you the maximum lifespan possible and for it to look beautiful as long as it is on your floor. If you have questions about doing so or are looking for products to do so, give us a call or stop by our Central Falls showroom. We serve the areas of Central Falls, Smithfield, Seekonk, and Pawtucket, RI, and we would love to help you as well.
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