How to Effectively Care for Solid Hardwood Flooring (5 Tips)

How to Effectively Care for Solid Hardwood Flooring (5 Tips)

Solid hardwood flooring endures a lot of wear and tear. It is, after all, exposed to spills, foot traffic, scuffs from children’s toys and pets’ nails, and a lot more.

Learning how to clean your flooring is one of the best ways to protect your investment. With the right care, it will remain in top shape for years to come.

While the regimen isn’t too rigorous, certain nuances are pivotal for its maintenance. This is why it is best to ask our hardwood flooring store experts for their advice.

If you have solid hardwood floors, here are some valuable tips to ensure they remain clean and look great for a long time.

Let’s get started.

The Best Ways to Maintain Solid Hardwood Flooring

Follow our tips for maintaining solid hardwood flooring to keep them in top shape and looking great for years to come.

1. Vacuum Regularly

To prevent dirt, dust, and grime buildup, it is essential to vacuum regularly. Apart from making your floors look filthy, dust and dirt particles create scratches when dragged by the bottom of shoes. This can ruin the floor’s beauty and reduce its lifespan, as it will need to be sanded and refinished more frequently.

That’s why it is better to be proactive by sweeping every day and following it with a dust or dry mop. This will make sure there is no dirt or dust remaining. Homeowners can also use a dry microfiber cloth or mop.

If it isn’t possible for you to sweep the entire solid hardwood flooring area daily, aim to clean the highest-traffic areas, such as hallways and entryways. This ensures your space is consistently cleaned effectively.

Regular vacuuming will help get rid of fine particles you may miss while sweeping. The vacuum’s suction power will also get rid of debris stuck between planks and in crevices.

2. Clean Up Spills Promptly

As soon as a spill occurs on your solid hardwood floors, make it a point to clean it up promptly with a dry cloth. Steer clear of steam and wet mops, as these can do more harm than good. This is because wood expands and contracts depending on the moisture level, both in the air and on the wood.

So, it’s important to make sure that humidity is kept in check to avoid gapping, splitting, and cupping. And, the best way to prevent these issues is to clean up spills as soon as they occur. Also, keep your home’s temperature between 60 and 80⁰F and somewhere around 30% to 50% humidity.

3. Deep Clean Frequently

While routine cleaning is a great way to ensure your solid hardwood flooring stays clean and in great shape, sometimes a deeper clean is necessary.

Over time, grime, dirt, and dust build up that cannot be removed with daily or weekly cleanings. Ideally, homeowners should use a floor mop designed for solid hardwood flooring and the right cleaning product. Follow label instructions or those from your hardwood flooring store expert.

A simple way to clean your floors deeply is to saturate a rag, mop or sponge with water and wring it out until it is only slightly damp. Then, mop the floor and wipe up excess liquid as standing water can damage the surface. If the weather is humid, use an air conditioner or ceiling fan to speed up the drying process.

If your solid hardwood flooring just doesn’t look clean enough, no matter how much you clean, consider refinishing it.

4. Use Furniture Pads

Furniture pads are typically affixed to the bottom of furniture legs to prevent dents, scratches, and fading of your flooring. When used properly, these pads create a cushion between your solid hardwood flooring and furniture. They are typically made using rubber, felt, foam or plastic and make it easier to glide furniture across solid hardwood floors without damaging it.

They are a cost-effective solution that is easy to use. You can choose from screw-in varieties for longer-lasting results, or adhesive felt pads for quick use. Your flooring will benefit greatly when the pads are used on furniture that is regularly moved around, like coffee tables and dining chairs.

5. Use the Right Cleaners

To reduce damage and keep your solid hardwood flooring looking new and fresh, it is important to use the right cleaning products. Of the various ones available, choose the specific type you need. For instance, some are for deep cleaning, spot cleaning, scuff marks, or grease buildup.

Moreover, while ready-to-use formulas can be used straight out of the bottle, concentrated varieties must be diluted in the right proportion and added to a spray bottle to be effective.

Additional Tip: How to Remove Scuff Marks from Solid Hardwood Flooring

Remember, dirt and dust are not the only culprits that can damage your solid hardwood floors. For instance, wearing shoes inside or removing heavy furniture can create scuffs. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to get rid of these. ● When dealing with heavy scuffs, apply a small amount of baking soda to a slightly damp cloth and rub it on the mark until it disappears. Then, rinse the area with a mildly damp paper towel and buff it dry. ● Buff out lighter scuffs with a clean, fuzzy tennis ball or soft sock.

 

When you know how to clean your solid hardwood flooring, you keep your home looking first-rate for longer. You can use area rugs and floor mats to trap dirt and dust and reduce your cleaning time. However, it is still important to regularly vacuum, sweep daily, and use the right cleaners for the best results. Speak to the experts at your solid hardwood flooring store for the best cleaning solutions for your floors.