Hardwood floor is probably the best flooring option – it gives a touch of elegance to every room, it is relatively easy to clean and you can easily change the look of your home by placing a few rugs. However, whether you have Brazilian cherry or classic oak, you need to know that natural wood flooring has to be properly cleaned and maintained in order to preserve its beauty and prolong its life. The Happy House Cleaning experts shared their tricks on taking care for natural wood floor.
Clean Regularly
Hardwood floors are much easier to clean than wall-to-wall carpet. But this doesn’t mean they need less cleaning. Abrasive particles like sand, or dirt can scratch the wood giving it shabby look. Vacuum your hard floor regularly to extract dirt and dust and mop at least once a week. Put doormats at every doorstep to prevent dirt spreading around the house. Click on the link to find great recipes for DIY hardwood floor cleaners.
Deal with Stains on Hardwood Floor
If you spill something on the wooden floor act quick and clean the spilled liquid, before it becomes a stain. Natural wood doesn’t stand well water and other liquids, but if you react fast you just need to wipe the stain and dry the area. However, if you have to deal with old stains, especially with water ring things are different and you will need to put more effort to remove the stain. Use wool cloth dipped in mineral spirit and gently rub the area with circular motions.
You can also try this trick to get rid of water rings on natural wood floor: apply generous amount of non-gel toothpaste on the spot. Wait a few minutes and then rub the toothpaste on the wood. After that wipe with clean damp cloth and buff the area with clean dry cloth.
Remove Heel Dents from Natural Wood Floor
Stilettos make leg look longer and more elegant. However, they leave unsightly marks and dent on any wood floor. Unfortunately, the only thing you can do when your hardwood floor has heel dents, or gauges, left from heavy furniture is to sand it and polish the wood again. Place rubber pads under heavy furniture to prevent scratches and holes on you hardwood floor.
Get Rid of Scuff Marks on Hardwood Floor
Scuff marks on natural wood look hard to clean, but actually it is really easy to remove them. Dip a sponge in warm water and gently rub the spot. If scuff marks don’t go away use some mild soap to remove them. Another way to clean a scuff mark from your hardwood floor is to buff the wood gently using dry wool cloth.
Conceal Scratches on Natural Wood Floor
If there are big, deep scratches on your hardwood floor the only solution is to sand the floor and polish it. But if you have to deal with small scratches you can remove them yourself. Use sand paper and gently rub the scratch. After that you can use black tea to conceal the scratch. Take used black tea bag when it is still warm and place it onto the spot. Wait a few minutes and remove the bags. Another way to deal with scratches on wood floor is to use fresh walnut skin – just rub the shell onto the scratched area. If you have wood polish at hand you can take a small brush and carefully cover the scratch.
If you have both hardwood floor and area rugs in some rooms, you can also check these articles: How to Clean Valuable Oriental Rugs? and 5 Green Ways to Clean and Maintain Carpets.
At last, but not least – don’t forget that if you need a hand for any cleaning task The Happy House Cleaning specialists provide wide array of services for homes, offices and commercial buildings.
