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How to Clean Hardwood Flooring for the Holidays
People who own hardwood floors know that the holidays mean cleaning time. It might go against common logic, but it is not the type of wood that determines how to clean a hardwood floor. It is the finish that determines the cleaning method. Floor experts tend to group flooring finishes into a few major categories, even though there are more than a half-dozen specific types of finishes. Effectively, we regular mortals can divide flooring finishes into two categories, which are surface-sealed and everything else. Surface-sealed floors are cleaned in a certain way, while all other flooring finishes are cleaned with a different method. Some floors can take a lot of punishment, but you will have to clean all wood floors on a regular basis in order to keep them looking good.
Most modern flooring is finished with urethane, polyurethane, or polycyclic. If not, then it is likely a penetrating-seal-treated or oil-treated floor. Finally, if your floor does not fall into one of those categories, then it must be lacquered, shellacked, or varnished. Otherwise, you are dealing with an unfinished floor, which requires very special care. Not to worry, however, because unfinished floor are as rare as hen's teeth these days so you will probably never see one. Whatever kind of finish your floor has, be certain to take regular care of hardwood flooring.
When you begin the cleaning process during the holidays, or anytime, use only the cleansers that are recommended by your floor care professional. If you use something else, it will possibly void the warranty that came with your floor. For surface-sealed floors, don't use oils, waxes, or any types of furniture sprays. Even water and vinegar are not good for them. Instead, use what the care manual recommends.
Winter cleaning for your floor can be a challenge, especially with all the snow, ice, mud, and salty sleet that comes in on kids' shoes and pets' paws. Use a damp mop to do routine maintenance jobs. You should try to sweep once every day, and wet mop once per week. In areas that get nearly no traffic, however, you can just do a quick mopping every thirty days or so. Never use a soaking wet mop on a wooden floor, even a sealed one. Wood and water are enemies, so it's best to keep them apart at all times. Instead of a wet mop, use a slightly damp one to get up light dirt and grime. Regular maintenance is the key to a great wooden floor.
If you see scuff marks on your floor, just use a tiny pinch of baking soda on a moist sponge to get them up. Don't rub too hard. You need to allow time for the baking soda to do its magic. If you have food or other types of stains on your wood floor, go ahead and use a commercial cleanser as long as it does not contain any chemicals that might void your warranty. And when it comes to hairline cracks in the floor, keep in mind that they are seasonal and will likely close up during the summer's more moist months.
Most modern flooring is finished with urethane, polyurethane, or polycyclic. If not, then it is likely a penetrating-seal-treated or oil-treated floor. Finally, if your floor does not fall into one of those categories, then it must be lacquered, shellacked, or varnished. Otherwise, you are dealing with an unfinished floor, which requires very special care. Not to worry, however, because unfinished floor are as rare as hen's teeth these days so you will probably never see one. Whatever kind of finish your floor has, be certain to take regular care of hardwood flooring.
When you begin the cleaning process during the holidays, or anytime, use only the cleansers that are recommended by your floor care professional. If you use something else, it will possibly void the warranty that came with your floor. For surface-sealed floors, don't use oils, waxes, or any types of furniture sprays. Even water and vinegar are not good for them. Instead, use what the care manual recommends.
Winter cleaning for your floor can be a challenge, especially with all the snow, ice, mud, and salty sleet that comes in on kids' shoes and pets' paws. Use a damp mop to do routine maintenance jobs. You should try to sweep once every day, and wet mop once per week. In areas that get nearly no traffic, however, you can just do a quick mopping every thirty days or so. Never use a soaking wet mop on a wooden floor, even a sealed one. Wood and water are enemies, so it's best to keep them apart at all times. Instead of a wet mop, use a slightly damp one to get up light dirt and grime. Regular maintenance is the key to a great wooden floor.
If you see scuff marks on your floor, just use a tiny pinch of baking soda on a moist sponge to get them up. Don't rub too hard. You need to allow time for the baking soda to do its magic. If you have food or other types of stains on your wood floor, go ahead and use a commercial cleanser as long as it does not contain any chemicals that might void your warranty. And when it comes to hairline cracks in the floor, keep in mind that they are seasonal and will likely close up during the summer's more moist months.
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