Hardwood Floor Maintenance Can Go a Long Way

You now have new hardwood floors installed in your Chicago area home.

Now what?

What can you do to keep your hardwood floors looking good as new? Well, some simple hardwood floor maintenance can keep your hardwood floors filled with life and avoid the dullness of an unmaintained floor.

The first step in maintaining your floors is to execute a routine cleaning process. You can find tips on how to do that here (link to supplied cleaning article). A basic cleaning routine for your floors can give you a leg up on preventing any floor damage and dullness of the finish.

Another way to protect your floors is not to let the floors be in contact with heavy UV rays. Use proper coverings on your windows and if you have rugs, furniture and coverings on your floors, make sure to rotate the positions of those coverings routinely so that the floor can age evenly.

Here are even more tips to keep in mind to prevent floor damage:

• Watch your pets! If your pets will be trafficking on your hardwood floors, keep their nails trimmed and their paws clean. By doing this, you can keep your furry friend from tracking in substances or debris that can scratch up or stain your precious hardwood
• Let the floor breathe easy. During seasons that you will be running the heat in your home, use a humidifier so that the wood in the floor stays moist and shrinkage can be prevented.
• If you spill it, clean it quick. Wipe up spills and spots immediately with a professional hardwood floor cleaner, following the directions for use.
• Use care. If something hard gets on your hardwood floor, like wax or gum, use ice to harden it and then gently remove it with a plastic scraper, a credit card or something similar. Don’t press too hard – use enough force to remove it without endangering scratching the floor. Afterwards, wipe the area with a soft, damp cloth to remove any excess debris from the surface.

Some other tips that could help protect your hardwood floors are to invest in floor coverings in high traffic areas, don’t use abrasive chemicals on your hardwood floor that could strip the finish and do not walk on your hardwood floors with footwear that has the potential to scratch your floor’s surface. This includes high-heeled shoes, sporting cleats and any footwear with a non-rubber sole.

If you have any further questions about ways that you can maintain your hardwood floors, consult a hardwood floor professional – they would be more than happy to give you suggestions to keep your floors strong and shining brightly.

If you need an expert in hardwood floors in the Chicago area, look no further.  We can help you with any project or question you have.

Contact us today.