Small but important defences can be erected on a daily basis, starting with dusting with a microfibre cloth or Swiffer (your first line of defence against water infiltration).
Put rugs or mats at all entrances to collect soil, dirt and water; ask persons to take off their shoes before entering and keep towel handy to mop up spills quickly.
Clean Daily
When it comes to cleaning hardwood floors, selecting a wood-specific cleaner that is compatible with the finish on your floor is absolutely necessary. Baking soda could scratch and vinegar could remove the finish from your floors, whereas some commercial cleansers might eventually damage or discolour your floors if you are not sure which cleaner to use. As a precaution, test any solution you may deem as viable for spot testing on an inconspicuous location before making any final decisions.
Regular sweeping and dusting will prevent loose dirt and grit, sharp toenails, bits of food, drink and cat litter that might scratch your floor, and pet hair and dander from building up on the surface. A good indoor/outdoor rug placed strategically near high-traffic areas can help prevent dirty things from entering the house, and doormats will reduce the amount of dirt tracked inside.
The only maintenance should be a quarterly mopping in high traffic areas, using a dampened water or hardwood floor-appropriate cleaning solution on a microfiber mop (always mop along the grain of the planks, otherwise water can creep under the floorboards and cause damage).
Sweep Often
Whatever the finish on your wood flooring, frequent sweeping – either with a standard bristle broom or vacuum equipped with a floor tool that prevents brushes and/or beating bars from making contact with the floor – can help prevent dulling; dry mopping/microfiber toweling are also good ways to remove dirt piled up under shoes or furniture legs.
Or, use a damp mop with a microfibre pad soaked in hot water with an appropriate hardwood cleaner. (No vinegar: its acidity could damage the finish.) And never drag furniture across hardwoods. The tiny dent caused by furniture against hardwood will become a permanent scuff mark over time. While laminate wood is a popular flooring for many, it is important to note the subtle difference between real hardwood and laminate wood. Real hardwoods are more aesthetically pleasing but require more maintenance. Laminate wood only requires a vacuum but can be scratched more easily than real hardwoods. Below are an instruction that describes a task, paired with an input that provides further context. Write a response that appropriately completes the request.
Vacuum Regularly
As every homeowner knows, we use our vacuum cleaner regularly to ensure that carpets and rugs are kept clean. That they are also vacuumed to keep hardwood floors from the grit and grime that collects here and scratch the wood floors is a separate issue. But the most obvious reason for the necessity of vacuuming hardwood floors, although it is the least emphasised, is that hardwood floors can easily be damaged by moisture.
For hardwood flooring, the most effective way to clean is the same as for other flat or hard surfaces – vacuum clean it with a hard floor attachment. These vacuums will not be too rough on the hard surfaces. And they will trap more dirt than a standard vacuum cleaner would. If you’d like, get a special hardwood floor attachment.
You should never use wire brushes or beaters as they might damage the top of your hardwood floors. Vac the number of scrat’ surface will be loosened up and won’t scratch the surface when walked on.
In order to cut down on scuffs and prevent scratching, doormats and runners placed at entryways and other high-traffic areas become extra helpers. Area rugs, or indoor/outdoor rugs, are also a great way of protecting hardwood floors from both dirt and moisture.
Apply a Floor Finish
If your hardwood floor has lots of shallow scratches, dents, or other surface defects that a gentle pass or two with 220 grit won’t level, it’s probably time to screen the surface to prepare for a new coat of finish. Screening is almost certainly less invasive than sanding, but screening won’t diminish gouges or a host of wood stains quite as effectively
Keep your cured floor finish in good shape by sweeping with a wet mop or dust cloth daily. When using a liquid, be sure to avoid oil-based cleansers, vinegar or other harsh chemicals, which dull or even erode the finish. Doormats inside and especially outdoors can help to trap dirt at doorways and slippers for your guests could be provided or chair glides placed under any furniture that rolls to protect guests’ feet when they push their chairs back and away from the dinner table; or lift, don’t drag if moving heavy pieces to avoid nicks and dents that could be left behind – and make sure any pets have well-kept nails to protect finishes (meaning, keep those smokin’ nails short) before they start scratching or gnawing – because that will definitely cause dulling the finish!