Wood floors are a beautiful addition to a custom home, but without proper care, they can wear, causing their aesthetic value to fade. If you’ve recently added hardwoods to your custom home, it might feel like the task of taking care of them is overwhelming. Knowing the basics helps simplify things. Here are some tips that can help.
Remove Shoes
This tip is a pretty simple one. When you enter your home, remove your shoes. Ask friends and family to do the same. This helps you to track less dirt inside, which can make keeping your floors cleaner. Some shoes can also scuff or scratch your floor, so play it safe and take them off when you come inside.
Use the Right Cleaning Supplies
With traditional floors, most people choose a mop and bucket to keep them clean. This is not the best approach to use with hardwood floors. Too much water can cause your floors to buckle and warp. Instead, use a very minimally damp mop and an approved cleaning agent. Check with the manufacturer of your floors to understand which products are best and if there are any you should avoid.
Hardwood Floors Maintenance
Sweep or vacuum wood floors regularly, and if a liquid spills on the floors, it should be wiped up immediately. It is important to avoid using a beater bar attachment on vacuums because it could damage the surface of the floors.
Dust Mop Weekly
Dust mop hardwood floors once a week to pick up loose dirt, hair, animal shedding, dust and other debris. This will help your floors to shine and it can preserve the finish on your hardwoods too.
Monthly Cleaning
About once a month, do a more thorough cleaning on your hardwoods. This is the time to use a manufacturer approved cleaner. Follow the instructions for the product being used, and do not use too much because it may damage the floors.
Remove Marks
Marks usually happen from dragging furniture and shoes across the floor. Your pet’s nails can also cause them. Small marks can usually be filled in with a hardwood floor repair marker or even a crayon in the same color as your floors. To prevent scuffs, if furniture needs to be moved, be sure to place felt pads on the bottom of all of the pieces before doing so.
Long-Term Recommended Maintenance Schedule
Even if your floors are cleaned regularly and swept daily, some long-term maintenance is required. A maintenance coat should be applied to the floors every three to five years, and the floors should be refinished every few decades or when they need it.
Final Words
A lot of people chose custom wood floors for their home because they love way the way they look. To keep floors looking brand new, they will need maintenance. Your Alair Homes Edmonton project manager will spend some time going over this information with you after your custom built home is complete. We’re also always available to answer questions or provide further advice. Contact us if we can help.