Hardwood floors are a great choice in any home, not just because they add warmth and elegance to any space, but also because they offer a great ROI. Once you install this kind of floor, however, you will have to clean it the right way to ensure it’s always in tip-top shape.
Here’s what you should know about keeping your hardwood floors in immaculate condition:
Tips And Tricks For Cleaning Your Floors
The easiest part of owning a hardwood floor is purchasing and installing the material. That’s especially true since there are lots of amazing sellers like Really Cheap Floors who sell high-quality hardwood flooring material and can recommend the best installers in North Carolina and Georgia. The more challenging part begins when you have to clean and maintain your floor.
Here are some tips you can use to make that easier:
1. Use The Tried-And-Tested Trick
Whether you’ve had your hardwood floors for some time or are just getting into this world, there’s one trick that will work flawlessly all the time. Try sweeping your floor with a microfiber dust mop or soft bristle broom. After this, follow up with a damp microfiber mop and just a few drops of hardwood-specific cleaner.
If you don’t have this cleaner, a simple homemade mixture of water and regular soap should work. Just avoid using too many drops of the mixture. As long as you do this regularly, your floors should remain in top condition for quite a while.
2. Use Tennis Balls For Tougher Scuff Marks
Seeing a couple of stubborn scuff marks after cleaning your floors? Not to worry; a simple tennis ball will usually do the trick, as long as the marks aren’t so deep. Simply make a small x-shaped cut in the ball, then fit a broomstick or something similar and use it to rub the ball against the marks. They should disappear quite easily.
3. Try Black Teas For Dirt And Stains
You most probably didn’t expect this one to come up. Black tea has tannic acid which is quite effective against dirt and stains. As if that’s not enough, it adds a natural shine to hardwood floors. You will need 4-5 bags that you should brew in 1 litre of water. Once the tea is ready, dampen a soft cloth and use it to clean your floor gently then use another cloth to dry and polish your floor.
A great bonus to this method is the pleasant smell it leaves behind. You will, however, want to use it sparingly to avoid buildup (3 or 4 times a year will be perfect!).
4. Dust Your Floor With Dryer Sheets
Did you know that you can use dryer sheets to dust your hardwood floors? Dryer sheets have antistatic properties that make them attract and hold dust particles. As such, you can use them to pick up dirt from your hardwood floors without leaving streaks and residue or disturbing dust and pet hair so it starts floating around.
You don’t even have to get down on your hands and knees. Simply attach a dryer sheet to the end of a normal dust mop or broom and use it to clean around the room.
5. Avoid Using Too Much Water And Harsh Chemicals
Your hardwood floor’s worst enemy is water, so be careful enough not to overdo it when cleaning. Too much moisture will seep into the wood and can make it swell, warp, or even crack. Therefore, avoid using a soaking wet mop or cloth when cleaning your floor. Instead, stick to a slightly damp mop.
Be sure to avoid harsh cleaners as well since these typically strip away your floor’s finish or leave a nasty residue. You also never want to use chlorine bleach on your floor, even if it’s diluted since it’s known to weaken the structure of the wood.
Your best bet would be to stick to cleaners that are made specifically for hardwood floors, like Murphy Oil Soap or Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
Get The Finest Hardwood Flooring In Nc And Ga
Cleaning hardwood floors isn’t as difficult as you may have thought. As long as you use the right methods, your floors should remain in excellent condition for as long as possible. However, you also should ensure you get the right flooring material so you’re certain of your floor’s quality.
One of the best places to find that is reallycheapfloors.com. Whether you need waterproof flooring for your bathroom or unique, distressed wood flooring that helps you make a statement, you will find it all under one roof. Not only that, but they have a great team of flooring material experts to help you make the perfect choice!
