Protect Your Wood Floor From These Common Threats
Wood floors don’t come cheap. You invested your time and money to pick out the ideal wood floor for your home. One that matches your style and enhances the décor of the residence. There are numerous wood species to choose from, and a wide range of sealers and lacquers that can be applied to complement the aesthetics, enhancing that natural look and feel of the installation. However, the daily wear and tear that the wood floor is exposed to can take away its beauty, and put its structural integrity at risk. Let’s delve into the challenges that are encountered, and measures to deal with them.
- Spills
These present two problems: staining and water damage. Wood is a hygroscopic material. The tissues absorb moisture from the environment The steeper the moisture gradient, the more the moisture that is absorbed into the material. This is also what is responsible for the seasonal expansion and contraction of the wood, as it reacts to the humidity changes in its surrounding environment. Now with spills, that moisture gradient is really steep, and the wood floor will readily absorb the excess liquid, causing the water damage. Depending on the composition of the material liquid, stains can result. From common beverages like coffee and tea that wind up on the floor, particularly troublesome stains such as wine that have spilled onto the floor, all through to pet urine accidents for those with cats or dogs in the house that are peeing all over the floor – these are not substances that you want to remain on your floor.
With spills, they need to be dealt with as soon as possible. Allowing the spills to remain on the surface increases the chances of them soaking deeper into the floor, and becoming much more difficult to remove later on. The floor cleaning carried out on these spots should be done as soon as possible, to reduce the threat of damage. Note that you should stay away from harsh cleaners when carrying out the task, as these will simply worsen the situation. While formulations like vinegar and ammonia-based solutions are used when working on other surfaces around the home, for the wood floor cleaning they will end up harming the finish coats and wood itself.
- Dirt particles
This is a broad category, ranging from the dust that gradually accumulates on the floor from the surrounding air space to the soiling that is tracked into the indoor space from the outdoors, trapped under people’s shoes. As these particles accumulate on the floor, their threat increases – especially as they get grinded against the surface when people walk on them. This resultant effect is like having numerous tiny bits of sandpaper on the floor, slowly wearing down the surface.
Routine floor cleaning is needed to deal with this menace. This includes the sweeping/vacuuming, as well as the damp mopping that is carried out regularly. Remember to use a non-beater vacuum in order to protect the floor. While neutral pH floor cleaners will get the task done for most situations, when you need an extra punch a mild-pH product can be used. However, ensure that the formulation in question has been particularly developed for wood floor cleaning, and that it is compatible with the finish coats that have been applied. The manufacturers of floor lacquers and sealers usually provide a list of compatible cleaners that you can use on the treated floor, that way you will be able to get rid of the dirt and grime without ruining the finish coats.
Extra tips:
- Given that soiling that is tracked into the space is a major part of the indoor grime building up, stopping it at the door will go a long way in protecting the household occupants, as well as reducing your workload during subsequent floor cleaning sessions. Here, set up welcome mats at the entrance of the building. These will trap the bulk of the dirt – and remember to regularly give them a thorough wash to remove the gunk that has accumulated in them.
- For households, you can have a “No-Shoe” policy in place. Basically, prevent family members from wearing their outdoor shoes in the house. Placing indoor sandals or flip flops close to the door will encourage them to make the shift once they get into the space. That way there will be less of a mess being made on your wood floor.
The simple action of walking has a bearing on the floor – with the effect being seen more in sections like the hallways, at the dinner table, lounge areas, and the kitchen. These sections witness higher footfall, resulting in traffic lanes – areas of the floor that are more faded compared to adjacent sections. The signs of discoloration clash with the rest of the décor of the space.
Risks of damage from heavy foot traffic can be mitigated in different ways. For starters, you can place rug runners on those frequently walked-on areas. Switching the furniture position regularly to change the traffic patterns will also aid this. Most important, you should have the wood floor finished with a protective lacquer that has been formulated to handle the levels of traffic in your indoor space. The floor cleaning is key here as well, as it will keep the finish coats in optimal condition. Eventually, even the strongest finish coats will wear down, in which case another round of floor sanding and refinishing will be required to revitalise your floor and continue protecting it.
- Pets’ claws
This is for those with cats and dogs in the household. If you have your furry friends running around, no doubt you have noticed scratches popping up all over the floor. You don’t want a case of the entire floorspace getting ruined by this. Here, you will need to regularly trim and buff the nails of your pet. You can also consider keeping them out of the rooms that have the highest risks. Going for a distressed finish can also come in handy, since here the scratches will not become prominent.
