Wood flooring is one of the easiest flooring types to maintain however when it comes to Christmas cleaning we have a whole new ball game on our hands. Tree pines, fake snow and glitter just seems to get everywhere. Or what happens when you get a scratch in wood flooring? Family get-togethers mean you have more visitors than any other time of year so you have more muddy footprints to contend with too. How do we keep on top of our wood floors? This handy guide will help you.
Christmas seems to send us all into a cleaning frenzy. If you’re looking to deep clean your wood flooring make sure you’re using the right cleaning agents. Harsh chemicals can cause discolouration so avoid at all costs!
What cleaning agent should you use?
Concentrated, non-concentrated, wipes or liquid? We’ve all been there, stood in the cleaning aisle with not a clue which one to pick. With the exception of oiled finish, a dry microfiber mop and a good concentrated cleaning agent is enough to keep your floors looking fabulous. There is no need for soaking wet mops or an overhaul of cleaning products. Oiled finished flooring is slightly different as they need an oil-based treatment to prevent drying out.
Wet mops ruin wood flooring!
For some reason we have the idea that the more cleaning product and water we add to our mop buckets the cleaner our floors will look. In goes your favourite cleaning agent topped up with generous dilution of water and away you go with your trusty mop in tow.
Stop!
Excessive moisture can be harmful to your wood flooring. The water soaks through the boards leading to lifting, warping or even cracking. All-in-one cleaning systems control the amount of liquid you use with the integrated spray system. The mixing compartment reduces the quantity of liquid used whilst the spray system evenly distributes the formula over a larger surface area.
Save money with an all-in-one wood flooring cleaning system
The cost can add up when constantly replacing your cleaning equipment. All-in-one cleaning systems come with machine washable microfiber cloths, eliminating the need to keep buying replacements. They simply pop in the washer and come out as good as new! As previously mentioned, less cleaning solution is used with an all-in-one system too.
Tackling stubborn dirt
For more stubborn dirt, a damp cloth thoroughly squeezed out is enough to remove it. If this doesn’t work and a stain persists get in touch with our wood flooring experts to find out what to do next. We have specialist repair kits available to treat certain damages. Risking home remedies could make the situation worse.
How to treat a scratch in wood flooring
Scratches are a flooring nightmare regardless of which type you’ve gone for; engineered, solid wood, laminate or LVT. Dark woods in particular show scratches much more readily than light. The darker colour grain is scraped away leaving a prominent light base colour protruding through the wood. Don’t worry, there are floor repair kits available to treat the damage; a wax coating disguises the mark by blending into the wood. If you’re choosing a flooring for a high-traffic area you may want to consider which flooring type is best for hiding marks prior to purchase.
Oiled engineered wood flooring is great for disguising surface marks as a simple re-coating in oil leaves your flooring looking as good as new. For solid or engineered woods, harsh marks can be sanded out. However due to the nature of laminate this cannot be sanded. Instead laminates are fitted with a floating click lock installation so damaged boards can easily be unclicked and replaced.
Additional protection
Certain flooring types need additional care. Oiled flooring for example, requires re-oiling around every 2 years to nourish and preserve the wood. This will need to be added to the routinely schedule.
There are additional care kits available to keep your flooring tip top. Wax sprays are great for engineered and solid wood flooring; providing a protective coating over the top layer. For bevelled laminate floors, joint protectors are great to sit in the bevel and stop any loose debris or moisture seeping through the join.
These handy tips will all contribute to getting your flooring gleaming throughout the Christmas season and beyond.
