Spring Cleaning and Your Hardwood Floor

Hooker Furniture Bedroom Auberose King Panel Bed sits comfortably on the hardwood flooring in this spacious bedroom.

There are many reasons to love wood flooring, especially the hardwood type. Hardwood floors are better than having carpet as it is cleaner and it asks for less maintenance. Hardwood flooring is also known to up the value of a house because it enhances the overall look of the structure.

Wood floors are also deemed to be more inviting compared to any other kind of flooring material. It is also versatile because it can be paired with almost anything. This means that you won’t have to worry about hardwood flooring ever clashing with your chosen design. There is also a wide variety of colors and finishes that you can pick from.

So, given that hardwood floors are strong, durable, acoustically beneficial, and cost effective (in the long run), you need to think of ways that you can keep this flooring for as long as possible.

Cleaning Old Hardwood Flooring

Okay, so your floor might be half a century old so the sealing is no longer there. You can have this work professionally done and spend a fortune doing so or you can have it done with your loved ones. Turn this into a DIY project for everyone.

But what would you need to clean hardwood flooring?

Cleaning the unsealed flooring can be a bit more challenging. It is dry and it will easily soak up the moisture that you apply to it. This means that you have to use cleaning products sparingly. You will need the following –

Mop
Water
Bucket
Vinegar
Rags or cloth
Broom

Procedure

Start by sweeping the floor first. Remove all visible dust and dirt. Find a sweeper that can pick up bits of dirt that can get stuck inside the wood’s grain.
Next, fill the bucket up with warm water then add a little amount of vinegar (about ¼ cup of vinegar for every gallon of water).
Use a mop or a clean cloth to apply the cleaning solution to the floor. Regardless of the solution that you use, ensure that the mop or cloth is wrung well so that the wood will not be dampened more than the necessary amount needed to clean it.
If the floor ever gets too wet, use the mop to absorb the extra moisture.
Allow the floor to completely dry.

It’s pretty simple, isn’t it?

Now, remember that you can also apply wax onto the hardwood floor so that it will be protected for a few weeks. This is highly recommended if you’re not ready to seal the wood yet. Waxing can be time consuming in the long run but it’s worth your energy and time if the wood can’t be sealed yet.

If you’re planning on sealing the wooden flooring, be sure to wipe off the wax first. Avoid using commercial cleaning products prior to the application of the sealant. Use mineral spirits to clean up the floor. Use a clean cloth to remove excess fluids.

You can also add some more protection by using rugs on high traffic areas. Runners can also be used especially on stairs to prevent the buildup of dirt in the future.

When you’re ready to seal the flooring, be sure to vacuum first. Check for damaged spots and stains then fix or remove them. Do not forget to have the furniture taken outside and to secure ample ventilation for the people who would apply the sealant.

Sand the floor using only a medium-grit sandpaper. Clean and vacuum the saw dust.

Lay the initial coat using a wool mop or wool applicator. Dry the first seal layer before you apply the next coat.

Allow the floor to completely dry before you bring in the furniture and declare your wood floor cleanup to be complete.

Tags: hardwood floor, hardwood flooring maintenance, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings

This entry was posted on Monday, April 3rd, 2017 at 10:03 am and is filed under 2017 Trends, Flooring Design, Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.