Everybody enjoys the look of shiny wood floors as they enter a home. It gives a warm cozy feeling & gives our home another level of class. But, over time without proper care floors get scratches, accumulate dirt and grime & lose that luster that they once had. However, with a few simple tips you can greatly reduce the damage done to your floors even in the wet season!
Tip #1
Take your shoes off! This tip seems quite obvious but over time we tend to forget it. When you walk on a wooden floor with dirty shoes, you are leaving lots of sand and dirt behind. These abrasive particles can scratch & damage your wood floors. The simple solution would be to position mats both outside and inside exterior doors with a sign that says “Please Take Off Your Shoes”. This will notify your guest so you don’t have to repeatedly remind them.
If your floors have been badly scratched and damaged & are past the point of simple fixes give us a call. More than likely we can remediate the damage with our hardwood floor refinishing process.
Tip #2
Once the “No Shoe” protocol has been put into place, the next best thing is to get rid of the remaining dirt and grime with a vacuum or dust mop & then wash the wood floor. Rubbing dirt into your floors is never a good idea, & if the dirt isn’t fully removed before washing you could expose harder dirt particles that could in turn, scratch & damage the floor. The best solution? Dust the floor with a mop that has been treated with a dusting agent (or use a microfiber duster) to pick up dust, dirt, and pet hair.
Tip #3
For the occasional deep cleaning with your wood floors you can use this easy homemade cleaning solution. Ok here it is: one cup of vinegar mixed with one gallon of water. Told you it was simple! Then, once you have the cleaning concussion created, Immerse a clean mop into the solution and wring it until it is damp-dry. Mop the floor in the direction of the floorboards, so if the water dries with a bit of a streak in it, it will not be as visible. After mopping, use a soft, clean towel to dry it or let it air dry.
If you want to take it a step further you can steep 1 bag of tea in 2 cups of boiling water and leave until it comes to room temperature, having a cup of tea yourself is required (just kidding). Once the tea is at room temperature remove the tea bags and soak a hand towel or cloth in the liquid, wring it out and then wipe the floor clean. Once the floor is coated in tea dry it with a soft cloth. Amazingly, the tannic acid in the tea actually helps increase the shine of the wood! By utilizing these simple tips you can keep your floors maintained and looking shiny like the day installed them!
Note: Over time the finish on your floors do begin to wear down. If you believe your floors is losing that luster and shine & or is damaged from accidents in the past call us today to see how we can give your wood floors that new look and shine!