How to wash and care for your hardwood floor

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It may seem like a silly topic, I mean, washing a floor should be simple, correct?

The way you wash your hardwood floor really depends on the type of sealant that you have used.  So, be sure to determine your type of finish, if any at all, because the finish, and not the type of wood, actually determines how you would safely wash and care for your floor. 

It is also important to note that water is wood’s worst enemy!  Why you ask? 

Hardwood floors can easily get water damaged even if they’ve been sealed. If a wood floor gets saturated with moisture, swelling and warping, unwanted stains or mold growth could result.  To avoid these problems, and to insure the beauty of your floors for years to come, address spills as quickly as possible.Take the time to buff your floor with a towel so that the floor is dry.

I’m not going to go on and on about the Do’s and Don’ts of cleaning your floor; however, I will emphasize the Do’s. 

Here they are:

Do use a non-toxic floor cleaning solution.  The best choice is a simple mixture of ¼ Cup of mild liquid dishwashing detergent added to a bucket of warm water.

*Toxic cleaners are not only bad for the environment, but also your health and the quality of air in your home.

Do use a sprinkle of baking soda on a damp sponge for rubbing off scuffmarks.

*Again, harsh cleaners and high acidic products such as vinegar and ammonia cleaners will eventually dull the finish of your floor.

Do vacuum and sweep wax based floor surfaces only.

*If floors are waxed, re-apply wax once or twice a year, and buff in-between to restore the original shine. Waxed wood shouldn’t be mopped; a wax seal is not watertight and liquid could cause unwanted damage.

There you have it, how to care for your hardwood floor 101.  For further questions, don’t hesitate to call the experts at Collingwood Flooring and they will be thrilled to share their knowledge and expertise on the subject of flooring! 

Written by: Melanie Vollick

Writing for several years with experience in newspaper, newsletter, website, magazine, technical and business writing, Melanie is an accomplished columnist, editor and proof reader.  Her aptitude for approaching many styles and genres of writing allow her to present incomparable written documents in a timely manner, while developing a strong presence for her clients.  

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