The warm and elegant look of a wood floor is a primary reason many homeowners choose it. If you have recently made this choice for your custom home, it is important to understand that maintaining your floors requires a little effort. You do not want dirt or scuffs to ruin your beautiful flooring, and you do not want the wrong products or excess water to permanently damage the wood. Here are a few tips that can help you maintain your gorgeous new floors.
Protect Your Wood Floors
The best way to keep your floors in great shape is to protect them from dirt and debris. You can start by setting a rule that shoes must be removed when entering your home. As an alternative, place a mat at every entrance of your home for wiping off shoes. It is important to wipe up spills immediately to keep them from setting in, and you should only use cleaners designed for wood floors.
Weekly Cleaning
The floors in your home see a lot of traffic, and that can result in the accumulation of dust, hair, fur, and loose dirt over the course of a week. This is why it is important to give your floor a weekly dust mop cleaning. It is also often helpful to spot clean the floors with a cloth, broom or vacuum cleaner every few days. If you are going to use a cleaning solution, use a wood cleaning spray to avoid damaging your floors.
Monthly Cleaning
About once a month, plan to get down and dirty and clean every square inch of your new floors. Use a sponge or mop and water to clean it, but keep either damp and not soaking wet. If any water puddles, make sure you wipe it up before it causes permanent damage to your floor. You do not need to use a cleaning solution unless a stain or mark calls for it.
Remove Marks
Scuffs and other marks are inevitable on a wood floor, especially in high traffic areas such as your custom kitchen. There are a variety of techniques for preventing and removing them. Shoes are known for leaving scuff marks on a floor, so implement that rule about removing shoes before entering your home. The scuffs may also result from dragging furniture around the room. Place felt pads on the bottom of each piece to minimize the risk.
You can use a pencil eraser to remove a small scuff and a scuff eraser to remove larger scuffs. If the scuff is difficult to remove, use acetone followed by an oil-based solvent, but use this method very sparingly and with caution. An eco-friendly paste made out of vinegar and water is also great at removing many scuff marks. Simply let the mixture sit on the scuffed spot for about an hour, and then wipe it up with a damp cloth.
Wood floors add a charming focal point to your custom home, but you need to put in the work to maintain their gorgeous appearance. Having your floors professionally installed also helps to add that elegant touch in your home. If we can help, let us know. Contact Alair Homes Calgary with questions or to schedule a consultation.