The floor is the best starting point to create a beautiful home. And when it comes to adding warmth and elegance, nothing does it better than wooden flooring. It not only gives a pleasing appearance to a home but also adds a touch of luxury.
One of our followers on Facebook recently refurbished her bedroom with solid wood flooring. While the aesthetics of her room got a major uplift, she was concerned about its maintenance.
So, is it really difficult to maintain wooden flooring?
“Contrary to popular belief, maintaining a wooden floor’s vivacious new sheen is a matter of minimal upkeep. Built with hardened protective layers and finished with durable surface treatments, engineered wooden floors require very little effort to maintain,” says Parul Mittal, Director, Greenlam Industries Ltd.
Here is our guide that tells exactly what you need to know about cleaning wooden floors.
Daily maintenance
Use humidifiers: Wood tends to shrink during summers and expand in winters. Thus, the regular use of humidifiers is recommended to minimise these gaps.
Avoid liquid cleaners: Using a wet mop to clean wooden flooring is a big no!
Keep liquid cleaners for regular flooring as they can damage the finish of the wooden floor. The best way is to dust the floor with a microfiber cloth every day.
Preventing dirt and damage
Vacuum the floor: Use a vacuum cleaner with a tightly squeezed mop to clean dirt. This can be done once a week to remove dirt from tough-to-reach areas like corners or under the furniture.
Use glue felt pads: Place glue felt pads under the legs of furniture to prevent scratching of the floor. Replace them once in every four months or earlier, if required.
Use doormats: This one is a no-brainer! Always place a nice doormat at the entrance to prevent dirt from getting onto your floor.
Long-term maintenance
Polish the floor: Polishing the wooden floor is recommended every three to five years. It renews and refreshes the finish of the wood and gives it a new look.
Important dos and don’ts
- If you have pets at home, you need to be a little more cautious. Keep their nails trimmed to avoid scratches on the floor.
- To avoid wooden exposure, you can also use beautiful rugs and carpets.
- Wipe any kind of stains immediately with a soft and slightly dampened cloth.
- Never move or drag things on the floor to prevent scratches. Always pick things and place them in their respective places.
- Got some sticky stuff like chewing gum? Do not scratch it out of the floor. Instead, use ice to harden and then gently scrape it.
- Do not use a vacuum beater bar as it can damage the wood.
- As mentioned earlier, do not use liquid detergents. These may damage the finish of the floor making it difficult to maintain later.
- Never clean your floor directly with water. Just use a damp cloth to wipe.
Expert advice
Planning to install wooden flooring in your home? “Make sure that there is a moisture barrier like a 0.2mm PET film and an underlay between the floor and the substrate. The substrate could be anything – concrete, sand, or cement screed. This further helps protect your floors from any damage that leftover moisture may cause,” says Parul.
To sum it all, here’s your maintenance schedule.
