solid Hardwood Flooring
solid hardwood floor can be installed in planks or strips and leave natural or treated with a forest stain. The flooring can be any type of hardwood ( oak, maple, teak, walnut, ash ) that is cut from one solid assemble of wood.
Reading: How to Clean Wood Floors
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood shock is manufactured by gluing together respective thin plies of hardwood. The layers are stacked with the grains running in different directions to give the floor pieces military capability. The surface layer can be a reduce veneer or a chummy layer of hardwood that can be sanded and refinished over time .
Laminate Wood-Look Flooring
Laminate wood-look shock contains no hardwood. The surface is actually a photographic image of wood covered by a thick layer of melamine resin over fiberboard .
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Watch Now: The Simple Method to Make Hardwood Floors Shine
How Often to Clean Hardwood Floors
To keep the finish bright and clean, forest floors should be swept, vacuumed or debris mopped daily and spills cleaned up ampere soon as they happen. A more thorough scavenge should be done weekly or monthly depending upon how much use the floors receive .
What You Need
Supplies
- Commercial wood floor cleaner
- Water
- Paper towels
Tools
- Broom, dust mop or vacuum
- Microfiber mop
Instructions
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sweep or Vacuum Daily
sweep or vacuum day by day to remove grit and crumbs that can cause scratches and wear down the finish of the floor. Do n’t forget to clean under area rugs on a regular footing. Remove scuff marks ampere soon as you notice them .
Tips
Use the Right Tools
- A soft-bristled broom is the best choice for removing crumbs and grit from hardwood floors while preventing additional scratches. The bristles can be made from nylon or rubber. Both types of bristles are static-charged and help to grab particles. Use a dustpan or hand-vacuum to grab the accumulated soil.
- It’s best to have two microfiber mops: one for dry mopping to capture dust and one with denser fibers for damp mopping. Microfiber mop heads attract dust better than cotton or sponge mops and can be easily washed and cleaned. A clean mop equals a cleaner floor.
- While a vacuum can be used on hardwood floors, choose one that has soft-bristle rollers and a retractable beater bar to prevent scratching. Use the upholstery brush attachment to reach dusty corners of the room.
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Tackle Messes as They Happen
Do n’t allow any type of dry mess or besotted spills that can leave water rings to remain for more than a few minutes on hardwood floors. This is specially important
for mud or any foods or liquids that are dark in tinge and can leave difficult-to-remove stains .
After cleaning up the spill with a paper towel or fabric, give the floor a final examination “ rinse ” with a slightly water-dampened fabric or pout. Wipe in the management of the wood ingrain to prevent streaking. -
Dust Mop Weekly
To capture the dust bunnies that seem to appear from nowhere, debris wipe up wood floors at least once per workweek .
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Damp Mop Seasonally
If you have been taking care of messes promptly and keeping floors exempt of grit and scatter, then you should lone need to damp wipe up with a cleaning product a few times each year. NEVER use a sopping-wet wipe up. excessive water can damage every sealant on wood floors and cause them to buckle .
lightly dampen a microfiber pout and constantly clean following the texture of the wood and allow the forest to dry completely before walking to prevent spot. If you live in an sphere with hard water, damp swab with distill water. The excessive minerals in heavily body of water can leave the floor finishes looking dull .
If you choose to use a commercial wood floor clean, choose one with a spray applicator or a pout that includes a refillable atomizer feature like those offered from Bona. Just a fleshy mist of about one-half teaspoon per two square feet is adequate for clean. excessively much intersection can leave floors muggy and actually attract more soil .Tip
Choosing a Cleaning Solution
Since most wood floors are sealed with cure polyurethane or polyacrylic urethane, it is important to choose a cleaning solution that will leave the sealant bright and without streaks. Never use harsh chemicals like chlorine bleach, ammonia, pine petroleum, or undiluted vinegar. Choose rather a commercial intersection that is formulated for sealed wood floors. Never apply fluent or paste wax over a polyurethane-sealed woodwind deck. We Tested the Best flat Mops for Picking Up everyday Messes
How to Clean Laminate Wood-Look Flooring
Caring for wood-look laminate flooring is quite slowly. Simply wipe up spills as they happen and sweep or vacuum frequently. For deeper houseclean, you can use a steam wipe up but avoid besotted mopping that can cause the underlayers to warp. Avoid harsh cleaners like pine oil or any cleaner that promises to leave a glow. The impressionable build-up will leave the laminate looking dull. Opt alternatively for a little total of complain dishwashing fluid in affectionate urine to dampen your wipe up .
6 Tips to Prevent Scratches on Wood Floors
Scratches campaign floors to look pall and wear out more cursorily. Taking a few precautions will help keep away scratches .
- Place felt pads on the bottom of chair and table legs.
- Never place houseplant pots directly onto hardwood floors.
- Never drag heavy furniture or objects across the floor.
- Skip stilettos and cleats when walking on hardwood floors.
- Place doormats inside and outside entrance areas and clean them frequently. Reducing the amount of grit brought into a home will reduce the number of scratches.
- Keep pet toenails trimmed and filed.
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