Hardwood Floor Care

hardwood-floor-careHardwood floors are beautiful but do require special care to keep them looking great. Following some simple tips on what to do and what not to do in taking care of a wood floor keeps the floor from being damaged and dull.

Anything wet on your floor

  • Using a wet mop or anything wet on a wood floor can cause damage to the finish and to the floor if the floor is left wet. Keep these things in mind in cleaning your wood floor.
  • First, be sure you clean up spills immediately. Use a dry cloth or a soft paper towel to wipe up non-sticky spills. If the spill will likely leave a sticky spot, use a damp cloth to clean it up and dry the area right away.
  • Second, never use a wet mop or any cleaners not designed specifically for hardwood floors. Water can seep between the planks and cause the wood to swell. Cleaners not meant for wood floors will damage the surface and could go deeper into the wood.

Clean your floor gently but thoroughly

  • Sweeping your floor should be done with a soft tipped broom to reduce the risk of leaving scratches on the floor. Brooms with soft, feathered tips not only reduce scratching but also do a better job of sweeping up the finer dirt particles.
  • Vacuuming will get up dirt a broom leaves behind so it is a good idea to vacuum regularly. Just be sure to use a hard floor attachment and don’t use a vacuum’s beater bars on the floor.
  • All floors do need mopping, including hardwood floors. It is best to use a mop with a microfiber head on wood. It should be wrung out until it is just slightly damp and then sprayed with a cleaner made for hardwood floors. Rinse the mop often and thoroughly, wring it out well and respray with the cleaner. Be sure the floor is dried well after mopping.

Protect your wood floor from damage

  • Moving furniture around can scratch wood floors. To avoid this, put felt pads on any furniture legs so they slide easily on the floor without leaving scratches.
  • Protect the floor from most spills and wear by using rugs in places where spills and heavy traffic is most likely to occur. Rugs also are decorative and add a cozy touch. Be sure they have cotton backing rather than vinyl, polyurethane or rubber as moisture can get trapped under rugs backed with them.
  • Sunlight also has a damaging effect on hardwood flooring. This can be minimized with the use of curtains or drapes. Since most people don’t want the thicker drapes keep shut all the time, using sheers that will let light in but keep out the damaging rays can be used.

Taking care of a hardwood floor doesn’t have to be difficult if you follow some basic guidelines. Then you can have a beautiful floor that shines.

Carpets or Hardwood Floors?

Carpets or hardwood floors? If you’re remodeling or building a new home or business, this is one question that’s going to come up throughout the planning stages.

Both carpets and hardwood floors can provide benefits to interior spaces, whether that be in comfort, practicality, or looks. When deciding if you should in fact go the route of carpet, it’s important to understand the reasons why. To help you with your decision we’re going to list the top five reasons why you should use carpet over hardwood and other alternative flooring options for your next project.

Carpet Allows More Personal Expression than Hardwood Flooring

While hardwood flooring can look beautiful in the right setting, carpet easily beats it as a creative outlet. Whether you are trying to build specific colors and branding for a business premise, or create the perfect interior space in your living room, carpet will allow you to express yourself through colors and textures in a way that hardwoods can’t compete with.

Carpet Is More Comfortable

You can choose carpet that is soft underfoot, which will help to create a more inviting feel in a home or business. Retail operations can benefit from carpet because it creates a more welcoming space that is also comfortable to browse through.

Carpet Is Safer for Active Children

If you have children in the home, carpet is the safest flooring for them. Hardwood can mean more injuries from falls and bumps, whereas carpet provides a softer layer of protection.

Carpet Allows for a Warmer and Quieter Home

Carpet is an insulator and it will work in two ways in a home or commercial space. Carpet will insulate against cold, and can trap heat. This means that a carpeted room is more economical, especially when you’re using climate control or indoor heaters/air conditioners. Carpet also insulates against sound which is a beneficial in offices, as well as in homes.

Carpet Is More Cost Effective than Hardwood

Carpet can be had for a fraction of the cost of hardwood, and even when compared to laminated wood or vinyl tiles. Carpet can last for years in a home or commercial space and is easily maintained. For projects where managing cost is a key consideration, carpet will always come out on top.

When it comes to flooring, carpets are the best choice because of their relatively low cost, ability to insulate, variety of designs and colors, safety, comfort, and longevity. When you want to create a unique and practical look for your home or commercial property, choose carpets for your floors.