The Best Way to Clean Hardwood Floors

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The Best Way to Clean Hardwood Floors

Written by Multi-Area Developments | on June 1, 2018 | Posted in Buying Your New Home

At Multi-Area Developments, we’re proud to offer the option of hardwood floors in your brand new Summit Park home.

After all, hardwood flooring offers many benefits, including:

High-quality, sophisticated appearance.
Impressive strength and long-lasting durability.
Long-term return on investment (should you ever decide to sell and move).
Improved air quality (hardwood floors do not trap dust and dirt like carpet).

Of course, you want them to last a lifetime with as little hardwood floor maintenance as possible.

With that in mind, here are some easy-to-follow tips on the best way to clean hardwood floors and how to care for hardwood floors too.

Humidity levels are important

Unlike something like laminate, hardwood floors are a natural product.

They’re also hygroscopic, which means:

Hardwood floor maintenance

“Absorbing or attracting moisture from the air.”

So, if the humidity levels in your home aren’t properly maintained, you could end up damaging the flooring material.

The ideal conditions for your hardwood floors are as follows:

Between 30% and 50% relative humidity.
Temperature between 68°F (20°C) and 72°F (22.2°C).

Anything outside of that zone, and your hardwood floors are susceptible to things like:

Squeaking.
Popping.
Crackling.
Warping.

Make sure you invest in humidity gauge for your home and monitor it closely.

One more thing: When you take your winter or summer vacation, do not shut off the heating or air conditioning.

How to care for hardwood floors: Things to watch out for

Although hardwood floors are tough, there are some things they shouldn’t be exposed to, nor have done to them.

Cleaners to avoid

Cleaning hardwood floors

Hardwood floor maintenance should not involve wax, oil-based products, or vinegar because:

Vinegar will leave etches in the surface.

Wax and oil leaves a sticky, hard-to-remove residue on the floor boards.

Remove spills ASAP

Secondly, clean up any spills or puddles immediately. The natural ebb and flow of hot and cold temperatures causes hardwood to expand and contract.

When that happens, water or other liquid can get trapped in the gaps between the boards. Eventually, trapped water will swell and discolour your hardwood floor

Use fresh mops or cloths

Dirty mops are full of abrasive grit particles. Grit that’s caught inside the mop will scratch the finish once it comes into contact with your hardwood.

Never drag furniture

If at all possible, lift heavy furniture when moving it across your hardwood floor. Otherwise, please put pads or soft cloths underneath the feet to absorb the weight and prevent scratches.