Cleaning Hardwood Floors In Few Easy And Simple Steps

Water and soap, wax, polish, etc – these things make people think that cleaning hardwood floors is such a hard task to accomplish. Not any more because the are simple steps to follow to make those grimy and dull floors gorgeous and gleaming once again!

The elegance and character of hardwood flooring such as exotic hardwood floors makes it a favorite of homeowners; however, cleaning hardwood floors makes the same homeowners think twice. The point is if you are really serious about considering hardwood floors, the way you plan or are willing to treat that floor is essential. Wood is a beautiful, natural, and timeless design and element. Consistent caring and correct maintenance will ensure that the flooring remains that way. But the question is how you could really go about cleaning hardwood floors the easy way so that you can give it the care it needs for many years to come.

For real clean hardwood floors, it's better to make sure that the whole area is clean by preventing the dirt from spreading. This can be done by placing area rugs or walking mats at each entryway to collect the grit and dirt that might have already tracked in. These particles are very good at contributing scratches to your floor even if it has great hardwood floor finishes. However, you should avoid non-ventilated or rubber-backed rugs or mats as they can easily damage wood floors. Instead, use rugs or mats especially made for hardwood flooring and remember to always shake them out. Aside from the entryways, you should also place mats in areas close to water contact, such as those near kitchen sink or bathroom.

Techniques for cleaning hardwood floors vary depending on the installation as well as the finish of the hardwood floor. For pre-finished hardwood floors, you can use an 8"x14" terrycloth mop that comes with a rotating head to make cleaning under cabinets, corners, and base boards a simple and easy task. You can also try the steam clean method or spray a professional hardwood floor cleaning product. You can ask for recommendation from your retailer to remove spills and tough stains safely without dulling the hardwood floor finish of your floor. Pre-finished wood floor manufacturers recommend specific products designed for the routine maintenance of their wood flooring. You should also check these cleaning products with your local retailers.

There are also deeper cleaning methods for beyond surface cleaning. If your wood floor is showing extreme dullness or excessive wear and you think normal cleaning won't really work, you may consider the screening and recoating method.

The screening method is the process of abrading the polyurethane hardwood floor finish currently on the flooring then applying fresh coats of urethane. Screening and recoating methods are good for rejuvenating and prolonging the life of hardwood floor. However, if the damage is severe and has already gone through the stains of the boards down the bare wood, you can just sand and refinish. Just remember that this should be a last resort only if screening and recoating does not really solve the problem. This is because this is such an extensive process that involves sanding down the floor to bare wood, re-staineing, and refinishing.

Cleaning hardwood floors does not have to be that hard especially if the damage is not that severe yet. However, if you want to get away with this, you can try some preventative methods to prolong the life of your hardwood floors.

Article Tags: Hardwoo Loor

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR