Laminate, vinyl, and real wood floors are a beautiful addition to your home; however, they require proper care to ensure they stay that way!!🤩 I have personally, made mistakes on my own wood floors throughout the year that have caused warping, scratches, and overall damage that can not be fixed..😣
So today, I'm giving you the inside scoop on maintaining and protecting your wood floors from damage so you don't make the same mistakes I did!!🥰
Microfiber Mop✨
Use a microfiber mop to mop wood floors. Microfiber is especially soft and will clean effectively while not damaging or scratching the floors!🤩
If you do not have one of these, you can make your own DIY one!! All you need is a Swiffer, a few, regular microfiber towels, and your floor cleaning solution in a bucket!🪣👇
1️⃣ Fully saturate the cloth in your bucket of cleaning solution, and wring it out well‼️
2️⃣Lock it in to the Swifffer by pushing the cloth into the holes as you would a regular Swiffer pad!🔓
3️⃣Now, you have your own makeshift "microfiber mop" to clean your floors with!!🥳
Keep a few extra microfiber cloths in your bucket of cleaning solution so you can switch out as needed and get the full floor!🔁
NO Over Saturation💧❌
It's crucial to avoid over-saturating your floors! 💦 (I've learned this the hard way myself 😅). Wood floors are particularly sensitive to excessive moisture, so it's vital to keep water usage to a minimum. By thoroughly wringing out excess water and ensuring your floors remain only lightly damp, you'll significantly prolong their lifespan! 🤩
Warm... NOT HOT🔥
Ensure that the water used for cleaning is warm, NOT HOT‼️ Excessively hot or boiling water temperatures have the potential to strip away the protective coating or sealant applied to wood surfaces, leading to damage😣. This can not only harm your wood floors but may also void any existing warranty agreements.🌡️
WITH The Grain⬆️⬇️
Ensure you are ALWAYS mopping in the same direction as the wood grain! 👏🏻 This method ensures that the cleaning solution effectively seeps into the wood's natural crevices, preventing any cloudy residue from accumulating on the surface.☁️ This not only enhances the cleaning process but also helps maintain the natural beauty of your wood floors. ✨
Furniture Felt Pads🪑
Add Felt Furniture Pads to the bottom of ALL furniture!! 🛋️ I do this on every piece of furniture we own, except those in the carpeted bedroom 🛏️. This protects WHATEVER kind of floor you have and also protects the wearing down of the furniture legs!🪑 It doesn't take long, they aren't super expensive and seriously makes a HUGE difference in the lifetime of your wood floors!🤩
Regular Sweeping/Vacuuming🧹
To keep your wood floors looking their best, establish a regular cleaning routine (as opposed to a huge deep clean every month or so!)🥰. Sweep or vacuum daily to remove surface dust and debris. This not only helps your floors shine, it removes any small debris that could potentially scratch or damage your floors!🧹
Control Humidity Levels💨
Fluctuations in humidity can cause wood floors to expand and contract, leading to warping and cracking😣.
If you live in a very humid area or during a certain time of year, it gets very humid, I would highly recommend investing in a dehumidifier to ensure the wood isn't warping!!💧
On the flip side, a very dry area can cause the wood to crack and splinter! So I would recommend investing in a humidier to keep the your floors looking shiney and polished!✨
We hope this gave you some insights on how to properly clean and protect from damaging your wood floors!!🥰 If you have any other questions, comments, concerns, etc. please feel free to comment or reach out to us!! We are always MORE than happy to help in any way, shape or form!💛
Happy Cleaning!✨
See you next week!
