Wood flooring presents us with a timeless beauty and elegance, lasting for decades if looked after properly. Like anything, it does need caring for and some attention. Don’t worry though, it is a lot easier than you might think. If you follow these steps then your stunning, durable wood flooring will preserve its natural charm for even longer.
Avoidable damage
The best way to protect anything is of course to keep it away from anything that may damage it. Now we know that naturally things will come into contact with it that are likely to damage it – it’s just important to know how to deal with things like this and avoid them where possible. One of the most important things is to wipe away any spillages immediately. Finishes applied to the surface of your flooring will protect is to start with, but if anything is absorbed it can cause irreversible damage. So, think twice about placing it in rooms that experience exposure to large amounts of water and stains.
Scratches and dents are another danger to your wood flooring. They are inevitable, especially if you come from a busy household with pets and children. Firstly, place mats by entrances from the outdoors, and remove shoes that may be hiding stones that’ll scratch. Avoid dragging heavy furniture along your floor and carry things if you can. Also, consider purchasing anti–scratch pads to go on the bottom of furniture legs, which is especially good for dining chairs that get dragged in and out.
If you have pets, then their claws can sometimes scratch. Do your best to keep their claws trim and blunt to avoid this.
Cleaning
Wooden flooring has a pretty easy cleaning routine. All that is needed is a sweep to remove debris and a mop whenevernecessary and of course, a daily sweep will stop dirt scratching it too. Be careful with vacuums though – make sure they have the right attachments, otherwise you could find yourself damaging the floor!
We would recommend purchasing special wooden floor cleaner to preserve your wood’s stunning appearance the best you can. Do not use a steam mop on a wooden flooring however, as it can cause damage if used consistently over time.
Sanding
If the worst does happen, then don’t fear. No matter how careful you are, sometimes scratches and stains do occur. The beauty of real wood is that it is able to be sanded down, depending on thickness. If you are lucky enough not to have any scratches or stains occur, then wood flooring should not need to be sanded down for the first 15-20 years, so you can only imagine how long it’s going to last!
