Taking Care of Wood Floors
Wood floors are a great alternative to stone and tile and can be very long-lasting if taken care of properly. This guide aims to address all of your wooden flooring needs and shares all the tips and tricks that you will need to prevent scratches, warping and discolouration.
How to Clean Engineered Wood Floors
Brooming and Hoovering
Regular brooming can help to minimise damage to your beautiful wooden floors by removing any debris that may scratch or get lodged to its surface. For this, we recommend using a soft bristle brush to avoid any scuffing and damage that can be caused by hard brushes and vacuums. For your floors to come up squeaky clean and shiny, we suggest using a microfibre cloth once it has been broomed.
Mopping
To freshen up your floor and remove any stubborn stains like muddy footprints, you should mop your floor every week or so. This should be exercised with caution as too much water exposure can lead to colour change and wood warping through water absorption. To prevent this, spills should be seen to right away and a slightly damp mop should be used.
The best way to go about mopping your wooden floor is to use a spray mop with a flat head. That way you can keep water contact to a minimum and soak up any excess water as you go. While it might be tempting to give your floors a deep clean using a steam mop or a wet mop, they should be avoided altogether. They promote far too much water absorption which can cause permanent damage. Scouring pads and other abrasive extensions are also a massive no-no as they can create permanent scratches and scuffs.
Wood Floor Treatment
Natural cleaning products like baking soda and vinegar typically work well for most surfaces. However, when it comes to wooden floors, it is something that we would advise against. The same goes for harsh cleaning detergents and those not intended for floors. In fact, it is estimated that 20% of all preventable wood floor damage is caused by poor cleaning and repair work. To avoid being one of those unfortunate few, you should use a wood floor treatment to avoid damage and preserve the quality of your wooden floor.
If you do happen to damage your wood floor, all is not lost as there are several wood repair kits available on the market that you can use to fill in any deep scratches. However, prevention is better than cure and there are a number of ways that you can avoid damage to your wooden floor aside from the advice provided above.
How to Prevent Damage to Your Engineered Wood Floor
- Floor Protectors - These are fibre tabs that you can stick to the underside of your furniture where it makes contact with your floor. These are great for chairs and table legs as they help to reduce abrasion and potential scratching from sharp corners.
- Use an Oil - oil can be added to an unfinished floor to add an extra layer of protection and add vibrance to its colour. If your wood has already been finished, we recommend following up with an additional layer every five years to keep it looking its best.
