With wood flooring being a lifelong investment, it’s important that we take good care of it, the last thing you want is to cause avoidable damage! Fixing a damaged plank or replacing our flooring is not always simple and can be very costly, so of course the best thing to do is to avoid it happening in the first place. So, what’s damaging our wood floors?
Not sweeping enough
Sweeping regularly is the best way to avoid your flooring getting damaged. This is because lingering debris and stones are likely to scratch it so get them up before they get chance to! This can cause your floor to become dim and lost its shine over time, so make sure they’re removed!
Not using the right hoover attachment
Although something you might shrug about, it’s actually quite important. Avoid hard wired brushes, as they can be too harsh on the wood’s surface. Instead, use a soft nozzle for those nooks and crannies.
Not cleaning up spillages as soon as possible
If any sort of spillages occurs, get them up as soon as you can – whether that be food or water! If you let it dry, this can cause irreversible damage to your floors and they’ll need to be refinished or replaced. Use a cloth and blot the spillage and try avoid wiping as much as you can. Never use a soaking wet cloth either, go for a damp one.
Using the wrong mop
As boring as it is, using the right mop is very important. As mentioned before, lots of water is a big no when it comes to wood flooring as it causes it to warp and swell, so dry mop. Never use a steam mop either!
Shoes
Yes, your shoe type can have an impact! Most of us take out shoes off before entering a home and this becomes especially important when it comes to wood flooring. Place mats by entrances. High heels are another story – the pressure can cause dents to the surface, so make sure these are removed!
Using the wrong cleaner
Always check what the manufacturer suggests, especially with wood flooring. Don’t assume! We’d always recommend getting specialist floor cleaner, it’ll be worth it in the long run.
