Wood floors should last a lifetime, but they do need to be shown some love and attention to keep them looking their best. Once your floor has been laid, you might need to make a few changes if you’ve been used to a carpeted house for instance.
Wood is a natural product and as such, reacts differently to environmental changes than some synthetic products do. It can also be vulnerable to water, cleaning products and damage from scraping or denting caused by furniture and certain types of footwear.
One of our senior managers, Sarah has over 14 years’ experience in wood flooring. She’s assembled some great tips and expert advice that will help you to look after your floor and enjoy it for many years to come.
Cleaning your wood floor
It’s important to sweep, dust of vacuum your floor regularly as this prevents the accumulation of dirt and grit which can scratch or dull your floor’s finish. If you’re vacuuming, be sure to use the hard floor attachment rather than the beater bar so as not to cause any damage. Ensure brushes have soft bristles to avoid scratching, and avoid scourers and steel wool.
Never use a steam cleaner or wash the floor with a traditional wet mop/sponge. Introducing water to the wood can cause warping, swelling, delaminating and joint separation that can only be resolved with replacing the affected boards.
If the floor needs cleaning, use a damp microfibre cloth or mop – we recommend the Bona Spray Mop which comes with a washable microfibre pad and has a spray action to distribute the pH neutral, wood floor-approved cleaning solution evenly and at a volume which won’t damage the wood. Alternatively, you could opt for a different approved wood floor product such as Osmo Wash and Care.
Protect your wood floor
Invest in high quality entry and exit mats to capture dirt and grit from footwear and prevent it from being walked across the flooring. It’s important to ensure that you don’t use rubber or foam-backed plastic mats as they can discolour the floor – instead, use an approved vinyl rug underlay mat to prevent slippage.
Avoid wearing heeled shoes like stilettos or spiked sporting shoes when walking on the floor as this can leave indentations, and try to prevent any sharp or pointed objects from scratching the floor surface.
If you have pets, keep an eye on their feet and ensure claws are kept trimmed so that they don’t scratch the floor. It’s also worth wiping dogs’ paws after walks and ‘garden visits’ to ensure they’re not bringing in anything they shouldn’t!
Use floor protectors on furniture to minimise the risk of indentations and scratches from it being moved. Sarah’s top tip – the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be.
We stock a wide range of “everyday” cleaning products; our specialist team is on hand to advise and guide you through selecting the correct products for your floor and how best to use them. All of these products are pH neutral, not like supermarket own brands, so they are gentle on your floors, safe for pets and children and are economical to purchase.
If your wooden floor is looking dull, scratched or untidy we also offer a wide range of maintenance treatments to bring the floor back to its former glory.
Got a wood floor question? Tweet us at @thewoodfloorco or contact us!