Dirt Problems On Your Wood Floor
That dirt and grime accumulating on your wood floor is a leading cause of its gradual deterioration. From the dust particles that are abraded against the surface – acting like tiny bits of sandpaper, to spills that lead to unsightly stains being formed – stringent floor cleaning measures should be put in place to deal with them. These include:
- Regular sweeping/dust mopping/vacuuming
The goal here is to reduce the rate at which the particles collect on the surface. The frequency of this will depend on how busy a premises is. For instance, in homes, the dusting or vacuuming can be carried out twice a week, while in commercial establishments this will be required daily. The kind of equipment used will be largely determined by the size of the area that needs to be covered. Some have distinct advantages though. For instance, if you’re dust mopping with a microfibre mop, here the material has a high efficacy of picking up even microscopic particles resulting in a healthier environment. Vacuuming with a unit that has a HEPA filter keeps those fine particles from being recirculated back into the indoor space as well. Note that as you vacuum the surface you should use it on a “hard floor” setting, and turn off the beater bars or rotating brushes as these can damage the floor.
- Use a mild or pH-neutral cleaner for the wood floor
The ideal is a natural floor cleaning agent. This will protect your floor. However, there are cases where stubborn grime on the surface will require a more potent agent. Here, use mild cleaners – especially those that have been particularly formulated for use on wood floors. That way they can break down the dirt and grime without posing a risk to the structural integrity of the installation. Be particularly keen on the dilution ratios that come with the product instructions when preparing the solution to be used.
What You Should NOT Do
- Don’t use a drenched mop for the floor cleaning.
It can be tempting to soak up the floor in a cleaning solution to quickly get rid of the grime – but this has the negative effect of risking water damage. With wood’s tendency to soak up excess moisture from its surroundings, using a wet mop will cause copious amounts of fluid to wind up in the wood tissue – bringing about the risk of water damage. Wring out the mop before proceeding to use it on the floor.
Technological advances have yielded innovative tools that help in controlling the amount of cleaning liquid that gets to the floor. These are the likes of spray mops. They have a cartridge on the mop that houses the floor cleaning solution, and you mist out a little at a time by simply pressing the trigger. They usually have microfibre floor pads which have a high absorption capacity. These features combine to enable you to carry out a thorough floor cleaning process – while still protecting the underlying wood from the risks of water damage.
- Don’t steam clean the wood floor
Steam cleaners and hot water extraction systems should not be used for wood floor cleaning. This will accelerate the water damage that would have already been a problem with cold water. The last thing you want is your wood floor warping or getting permanent damage as a result of improper floor cleaning measures.
Extra Tips To Take Care Of Your Wood Floor
- Avoid placing hot items directly on the floor.
From that hot plate or cookware, a curling iron, space heaters to even candles – these are not items that should be placed on that surface. They can end up creating scorch marks on the otherwise elegant wood floor – or trigger all-out fires.
- Rearrange the furniture in the room regularly.
This is helpful in preventing specific sections of the floor from being too worn down for handling most of the traffic, all through to evening out the effect of the sun on the floor surface. You will notice that sections of the floor that are not covered by furniture or rugs get more faded compared to adjacent areas. Switching the positions of the furniture comes in handy to minimise this effect.
- Take extra care with wheeled chairs
Those hard plastic wheels that are at the bottom of the home office chair or even that rolling storage bench can end up scratching the wood floor. You don’t have to replace the wheels of the furniture if it is not feasible You can simply add a rug or rubber mat under the wheeled units to protect the underlying floor.
- Get furniture pads, especially for the heavy sets
That bulky sofa set, the dinner table and chairs that are frequently moved around – these add to the strain on the wood floor. Furniture pads come in to protect the floor.
Speaking of moving furniture, remember that the seats and tables should not be dragged across the floor. They should be lifted and carried instead, to avoid risks of scratching or even gouging out sections of the floor.
- Trim Fluffy’s nails
You can’t keep your cat or dog from ever walking or running on the floor. However, note that each time they draw out their claws and dig into the surface to get traction, they are likely to leave behind scratches. So, to minimise the damage to the surface, simply trim their nails regularly. You can do this with specialised pet nail clippers, or have it done during the routine grooming sessions by a professional.
Eventually, the wood floor will need to be refinished, regardless of how thorough the routine floor cleaning has been. This is due to the wear effects that become more prominent over time. From scratches covering the surface, traffic lanes on those frequently walked on areas, all through to cases where the finish coats that had been applied have changed colour – when the effects become too great to ignore, the existing finish will need to be sanded down, and fresh new coats of product to be applied.
