How to Care for Hardwood Floors

The ultimate sign of elegance and charm for any household seems to be under our feet in the form of gorgeous hardwood floors. Unfortunately, this particular sign of elegance can be a bit tricky to take care of. But fear not, below you will find the best ways to care for hardwood floors:

How to Clean Hardwood Floors

When it comes to caring for your hardwood floor, much like anything else, the best way to do so is through proper cleaning. Proper cleaning of hardwood floors involves a lot of specific steps and precautions. The first step is to immediately clean up any spills with a gentle cloth (can be slightly wet, but be careful about too much moisture left on the floor). It is also important to dust daily (or at least twice a week) with a microfiber mop and to vacuum on the bare floor setting (be cautious of wheels to avoid scratching) at least once a week. Light mopping can be done in hard-to-reach areas, but be extremely cautious of too much moisture. Every 1-2 months you should also be polishing the floors for a deeper clean and to polish out any micro scratches that could have taken place. For a long life for your floors also consider having maintenance done every 1-5 years (depending on diligence in the other cleaning areas and foot traffic) to get the floors sanded and refinished.

How to prevent scratches

Daily sweeping/dusting is the best way to prevent scratches, but there are also other preventative measures to take. For example, adding areas rugs to high-traffic areas (especially entryways) of the floor will prevent extra dirt, sand, or rocks from potentially scratching the floor. Also, putting a small rug by the sink will help prevent excess water from splashing onto the floor when you are using the sink. Putting stick-on felt protectors under furniture legs also helps prevent scratching.

Avoid activities that could scratch the surface of your floors. For example, attempt to avoid shoes being worn on the floor (especially sports shoes and high heels). Try to fend off pets from walking and running on the floors (or at least be sure to keep all animal’s nails trimmed).

How to repair and hide scratches if they happen

For light scratches, you can use a wood stain marker that matches your hardwood to fill in the spot. This is done by cleaning the area thoroughly (make sure all of the cleaners are out of scratch) then use a clean rag or paper towel and dab the wood stain marker onto it. With the wood, stain dabbed towel you gently press it against the wood over the scratch and rub it into the length of the scratch (being sure to follow the grain of the wood).  

For more extreme scratches you may need to use a wood filler that matches the color of your floor. This is done by sanding the area with light sandpaper (after it is thoroughly cleaned, of course) and going along the grain of the wood. Then you’re going to want to use a mineral oil and a soft rag to smooth out the sanded area (this should also aid in getting any sanding dust cleaned up). Then, using a plastic putty knife (never use metal as it could just add another scratch to the floor), you fill in the scratch with the wood filler. After this stage, you’re going to want to let the floor dry thoroughly. Once the floor is dry, you sand off any edges that might be uneven and then wipe up any dust. The final step will be sealing the area with a varnish that matches the wood using a lamb’s wool rolling brush (other types of brushes risk bubbles getting in the seal).

What not to do

Avoid having liquid on the hardwood floors as much as possible (wood and water don’t mix). This even includes moisture from high humidity. To avoid issues with humidity, install a humidity detector and keep the humidity between 40-60%. To keep the humidity in the right range consider having a humidifier, a dehumidifier, and an air conditioner on hand.

Do not use excess liquids even for cleaning. Use as little actual liquid on the floor as you can because excess water can seep through the seams of your gorgeous wood floor and cause severe damage. If you do decide that you need to mop your floor for whatever reason, try and keep the mop as dry as possible.

We all want a home so gorgeous that it makes others envious. By taking great care of your hardwood flooring, you’re sure to see jealousy and admiration in the eyes of your guests for years to come.

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