Unique Maintenance Strategies for Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are gorgeous additions to any home. What makes them so beautiful is the high-quality wood used to create each board. Naturally, hardwood flooring requires a certain level of upkeep to stay lustrous and lovely. But trying to figure out maintenance strategies for hardwood can prove challenging. Fortunately, we’ve put together a short list of the best methods to ensure your hardwood floors are always gorgeous.

Mop With Hardwood Floor Cleaner Monthly

The first step to keeping your hardwood pristine is scheduling time to hit it with a cleaning treatment. Keep in mind that hardwood and water do not mix. Ideally, the solution you use should be a soap-free, oil-based detergent. This is especially true for older hardwoods with penetrative finishes.

However, if your floors are newer, you might be able to get away with a water-based cleaner. Either way, treating your hardwood floors with a special cleaner will keep them fresh and clean. As far as frequency is concerned, best practice dictates that you perform this task once monthly.

Perform a Professional Deep Clean Annually

The next step is to perform a deep clean on your hardwood. You can start by identifying the type of finish your floors have:

• Penetrative finish: Water soaks into the wood (typical of older flooring)
• Surface finish: Water pools on the wood (typical of homes built after 1920)

Once you understand which finish you’re working with, you can choose a hardwood cleaner that’s most appropriate for it. From there, grab a microfiber mop and get to work. Or you can call a professional cleaning service to handle the treatment, which will ensure you get the best deep clean possible. Plus, professional cleaners have a more nuanced understanding of hardwood, so you can expect them to also address the aspects of maintenance that will keep your hardwood in pristine condition for much longer than your standard DIY cleaning.

Apply a New Coating or Finish Every Few Years

Proper cleaning is only part of the equation. If you want to reap the full benefits of excellent hardwood maintenance, you must take the time to occasionally apply a new coating or finish. As with any other type of flooring, hardwood sees a lot of foot traffic, dirt, and debris throughout its life span. As a result, its coating will wear over time. That’s why applying a new coating every three to five years is a good idea. You might choose a protective sulfonic coating for your hardwood floors, or you could select another formula that you like better. Either way, refinishing your floors is crucial to ensuring they stay well-protected and gorgeous for years to come.