Hardwood Care and Maintenance
How to Clean and Care for Your Hardwood Flooring
To ensure the durability and beauty of your hardwood flooring, many of today’s manufacturers use built-in scuff-resistant technology to keep floors looking their very best. Shaw’s ScufResist™ built-in hardwood floor finish, for example, protects floors from scuffs, marks, and scratches that could result from everyday wear and tear.
Protective Hardwood Flooring Care and Maintenance
At Carpet Land, we know how important it is to follow a protective care and maintenance routine for your new hardwood floors. Set out entry mats and doormats in high-traffic areas and remove all outdoor shoes before walking across your hardwood flooring. To protect your hardwood floors from dents or indentations heavy furniture can leave over time, buy floor protectors.
Everyday care and maintenance could include sweeping, vacuuming, or dry mopping your hardwood flooring. Make sure to check with your manufacturer’s care and maintenance guide, in addition to their list of approved vacuum cleaners, before caring for your flooring.
If your flooring needs more than just a dry surface clean, talk to one of our experts who can order you a manufacturer-specific cleaning product.
If you need a periodical deep cleaning, hire a local professional floor cleaning company. For recommendations, speak with any of Carpet Land’s flooring specialists in Omaha, Lincoln, or Sioux Falls!
Preventative Maintenance
Be mindful of preventative maintenance for your new hardwood flooring; frequently trim your pet’s nails or remove your high heels and heavy boots before walking across wood floors. Since hardwood flooring is also sensitive to the indoor climate of your home, use a humidifier during the dry heating season and run a dehumidifier during inclement weather.
Layered looks are also in style; add an area rug on top of your hardwood flooring to protect and enhance the interior design. For additional preventative maintenance best practices, visit us and ask one of our Sioux, Falls, Lincoln, or Omaha hardwood flooring professionals.
Spill and Stain Removal on Hardwood Floors
Life happens on our flooring, and the occasional spills and stains are just inevitable. Learning how to remove common household stains without damaging your wood floors is important.
Most common spills like liquids or pet accidents will wipe away clean, especially on hardwood floors with stain and scuff-resistant technology built into the hardwood finish. Wipe away liquid spills immediately, as hardwood flooring is not water-resistant and can damage the finish.
For other common stains like wax residue or nail polish, consult with the manufacturer’s guidelines.
What Should You Avoid Cleaning Hardwood Flooring With?
Although traditional and cost-effective cleaning solutions have stood the test of time, it is important to be aware of certain cleaning products that should be avoided. One such product is chlorine bleach, even when diluted, as it can compromise the integrity of wooden surfaces. Additionally, floors with a polyurethane finish may appear cloudier due to the accumulation of wax. To address this haziness, a straightforward method involves using a clean cloth dampened with warm water to gently eliminate the cloudy residue. Ideally, if available, it is recommended to utilize a damp microfiber cloth for this purpose.
How to Fix Scratches in Hardwood Floors
To repair scratches on hardwood floors, determine the severity of the damage.
- For minor scratches, clean the area with a soft cloth and hardwood cleaner.
- For small scratches on newer finishes, try a mixture of apple cider vinegar and olive oil. Buffing with fine-grit sandpaper or using coconut oil can also help. Use a blending pencil for small scratches and a finish restorer for scuffs.
- If damage is moderate, apply a new coat of finish or stain to the affected area.
- For extensive scratches or gouges, sanding and refinishing may be necessary. Use wood filler for wide gouges, followed by staining and refinishing.
- In severe cases, damaged flooring may need to be replaced or patched. It’s advisable to seek professional help for severe damage to avoid further harm to the wood.
Carpet Land Omaha, Lincoln & Sioux Falls | Wood Floors
Additional Resources
Below is a list of additional care and maintenance tips plus stains removal resources to help keep your hardwood flooring looking beautiful:
Your first inclination when it comes to common household stains like spilled milk, pet accidents or makeup stains, is to just jump right in and clean up the mess. Before you tackle cleaning any spills, stains or soils on your new carpet, first establish whether it’s an oil-based stain or water based stain, then consult our common stain removal guides. Some messes will just wipe away with a cleaning cloth while others will require comprehensive stain removal directions. Our experts at Carpet Land, can help you find the best ways to get any stain out of your carpets.