Hardwood floors are a selling point for both rental properties and purchased properties. Although just about everyone loves looking at them, most people have no idea how to maintain them. Hardwood flooring can be a gorgeous addition to your living quarters, but there are a few things to keep in mind to avoid ruining it.
Do a Smudge Test
A smudge test is quite simple. Simply press your thumb firmly against the hardwood floor and drag it across the surface. If a smudge is left behind, you are dealing with a shellacked floor or a floor that has been treated with wax, and that means that you need to be careful with it. On the other hand, if you see no smudge at all, your floor has been treated with a plastic sealer, which can be swept and mopped as you would normally.
Soap and Water
The key to keeping a hardwood floor in good shape is simple water and soap. Add a small drizzle of mild dishwashing soap to a bucket of water and mop it clean once in a while. The key to keeping your floor’s shine up and avoiding a dull look is to immediately dry the floor after you mop. The less time the water has to soak into your floorboards, the shinier the hardwood will be. No matter what you’ve heard, skip the water or water and vinegar wash. Both of these things will leave your floors looking dull.
No Furniture Polishes
Oddly enough, one of the best things you can do for your hardwood floor is to avoid doing something. Do not use a furniture polish on your hardwood floor. Using furniture polish is perhaps one of the top ways that people ruin their good hardwood.
Be Careful While Walking
Hardwood floors are an investment, and that means that you should be careful about how you use it. For example, the absolute best thing that you can do for your floors is to only walk on it in stocking or bare feet. Shoes drag in dirt and they can scar the floor’s surface. Some people institute a no-shoes rule in their homes for just this reason. If that is too much for you, simply prevent people from wearing stiletto heels on your floors. A stiletto heel places most of the walker’s weight onto the point of the shoe’s heel, which causes dents.
If you want to make sure that your hardwood floor looks great, take a moment to consider how you care for it. A little care can go a long way, whether your hardwood floor is brand new or over a hundred years old.
Post Author: andyc.
