Hardwood floors are a popular home design feature throughout Belleville and beyond. If you’re new to wood floors because you’ve just purchased a home or had a custom home built by Alair Homes Belleville that features them, you may wonder if they’re difficult to maintain. The good news is that they aren’t. However, there are some common pitfalls, so here are the techniques you should be using to maintain your wood floors.

Daily Cleaning

Daily or as-needed cleaning should be limited to sweeping or dust mopping. Experts tend to prefer dust mopping since it is less likely to scratch the finish. If you prefer a broom, purchase one that has soft bristles. The classic broom is not suitable for most hardwood floors and will likely create scratches.

Weekly Cleaning

For weekly cleaning, use a vacuum. Ensure that you choose a machine that specifically has a bare floor setting, and be wary of wheels that could scratch. If you’re using a vacuum without such an option, then vacuum using the floor brush attachment. Note that wet mopping isn’t mentioned. You generally shouldn’t wet the floor except for periodic cleaning.

Monthly Cleaning

In order to maintain the beautiful home design of your custom home, deep clean the hardwood floors about once a month. Using a commercial wood floor cleaner is a fine option for most finishes. Some experts prefer a more natural approach, such as boiling teabags for the tannic acid and using that mixture. The problem with going with a water-based solution is that you have to be very careful to avoid standing water and not to leave any moisture behind.

Photo by Alair Homes BellevilleBrowse kitchen photos

Maintenance Coats

A maintenance coat is where you recoat the existing finish as opposed to sanding and applying a new finish. This generally should be performed every three to five years, and how soon will depend on the foot traffic in the area. Hire a professional to perform this step.

Using Area Rugs

If you have hardwood floors in areas of high foot traffic, then you’ll generally want to carefully place areas rug and enforce a no-shoe policy. Area rugs can really cut down on how often you need a maintenance coat, but you have to be careful to keep them clean since they can scratch the floor when dirty enough.

Sanding and Refinishing

Every few decades or thereabouts, have a hardwood floors expert sand and refinish your floors rather than just apply another coat. It helps greatly to have a floor company you trust. These experts can tell you that now is the time to refinish rather than just apply another maintenance coat.

Other Precautions

If a drink or any other kind of liquid spills, stop what you’re doing and clean it immediately. Whether it seeps in or stands—depending on your finish type—it will undermine the finish. Additionally, you should invest in stick-on felt protectors for all furniture on hardwood floors.

Following these tips will help to keep the hardwood floors in your custom home beautiful and durable for years to come. If you have additional questions, we’re here to help. Contact your Alair Homes Belleville project manager for more great advice.