Floor Care - Tips to Maintain Timber Floor
How to maintain your Solid Timber/Floating Timber
Knowing how to clean hardwood floors is very important. Gravel and dirt is the bane of hardwood floors. Even fine dirt such as indoor plant soil can scratch and mark the floor if not removed promptly. Hardwood floor care may be more work but if someone in your household has allergies, then hardwood floors makes life much more breathable. Therefore, sweeping and dusting is a regular once a week routine, or after any event that leaves dirt and grit behind.
Method 1 of 3: Taking care
- Avoid using regular household dusting and cleaning products. These products will cause permanent damage. Use only products specifically designed for hardwood.
- Never use water to mop the floors. Water will definitely cause permanent damage. You can use a damp cloth to wipe up spills but never pour water directly on the floor to ‘mop’ the floor.
- Don’t use ammonia
- Never use wax on a floor with a urethane or other glossy finish.
- Don’t drag furniture when moving it – use felt contacts under furniture legs to prevent scratches and gouges.
Method 2 of 3: Protecting hardwood floors
- Vacuum. This is preferable to sweeping because it allows the dirt and dust to be pulled from between the boards. Use a vacuum with a bare floor attachment, not a vacuum beater bar, which can damage the wood.
- Use sheers or blinds to protect your floors from the discoloration caused by direct sun rays.
- Keep high-heeled shoes in good repair and avoid using stiletto heels or just remember to always remove shoes at the front door. Keep a pair of slippers so that you can easily walk from the front door to another room.
- Keep nails and claws trimmed on pets.
- Use cotton area rugs and mats in high traffic areas and sites of frequent spills. Move the rugs frequently so that these areas of the floor remain the same color as the exposed floor.
- Rubber and vinyl mats and rugs trap water under them.
- Clean up spills immediately with a paper towel or dry cloth. A damp cloth can be used for sticky spills, but dry the spot immediately afterwards.
Method 3 of 3: Microfiber cleaning
- Use a damp flat mop with a microfiber head to sweep up hair and dirt. Wring the mop head out enough for the head to be barely damp. You do not want a lot of water in the mop head.
- Spray a clean microfiber mop head with orange glow floor cleaner.
- Wash the floor with it. For best results don’t let the mop head get too dirty during the wash. Do about 6 or 7 strokes. Then check the mop head and rinse it out when it is filthy.
- Respray the mop head each time you rinse the dirt out.
How to maintain your Hybrid/Laminate Flooring?
To maintain the hybrid or laminate floor, you need to ensure the correct placement of external and internal door mats can reduce walked in dirt, sand and stones substantially. These provide additional protection and are the first line of defence in reducing fine scratches and dents.
Before you start cleaning, making sure that you read the manufacturer’s instructions before using any cleaning solution and never spray them directly onto the floor. Don’t use abrasive cleaners, nylon scouring pads, steel wool or scouring powder as they may damage the floor. Regularly run a canister vacuum or sweep with a soft dry broom over the surface to remove dirt and debris from cracks and crevices (preferably with an effective dust filter and suction nozzle for hard surfaces) to remove any loose dirt or grit which could damage the floor.
Scuffs and stains can easily be removed by a diluted solution of household ammonia or white spirit. Use a damp cloth, mop or sponge – not a wet one.
Some latexes/rubbers, which contain certain antioxidants, can permanently cause yellow staining. The rubber of this type is often used in backings for rugs and mats, protective feet for stools, low-cost shoes and wheels for trolleys and wheelchairs. Non-staining vinyl backed mats or woven rugs identified as colourfast should be used on hybrid/Laminate floors. If the floor is to be subjected to any of these applications, darker colours are recommended which will hide any discolouration, should it occur.
Minor nicks and scratch marks can usually be resorted by first cleaning the affected area, and then applying furniture scratch cover oil with a clean white cloth.
Before you start cleaning, making sure that you read the manufacturer’s instructions before using any cleaning solution and never spray them directly onto the floor. Don’t use abrasive cleaners, nylon scouring pads, steel wool or scouring powder as they may damage the floor. Regularly run a canister vacuum or sweep with a soft dry broom over the surface to remove dirt and debris from cracks and crevices (preferably with an effective dust filter and suction nozzle for hard surfaces) to remove any loose dirt or grit which could damage the floor.
Scuffs and stains can easily be removed by a diluted solution of household ammonia or white spirit. Use a damp cloth, mop or sponge – not a wet one.
Some latexes/rubbers, which contain certain antioxidants, can permanently cause yellow staining. The rubber of this type is often used in backings for rugs and mats, protective feet for stools, low-cost shoes and wheels for trolleys and wheelchairs. Non-staining vinyl backed mats or woven rugs identified as colourfast should be used on hybrid/Laminate floors. If the floor is to be subjected to any of these applications, darker colours are recommended which will hide any discolouration, should it occur.
Minor nicks and scratch marks can usually be resorted by first cleaning the affected area, and then applying furniture scratch cover oil with a clean white cloth.