Hardwood floors look lovely inside the home and are very practical. They do require some cleaning methods and need attention paid to them during house cleaning. They are generally easy to take care of when keeping the house clean. Some ways that can make hard floor surface cleaning easier is by taking some of these tips into consideration.
Preventative methods
Prevention is often the most effective house cleaning method. With wooden floor surfaces in the house, you should position a mat inside and outside the door. This will catch any mud or dirt before it can get trampled over the floor surfaces. Also having a shoes off policy inside the home will stop dirt coming in.
To prevent marks and scratches occurring on your hard floor surfaces, place floor protectors under furniture. It is also a good idea to put a rug in rooms that are prone to scratches occurring, such as in the children’s play room. This will prevent scratches occurring from children’s toys that can be quite damaging to the floor finish.
Basic care
The first step in your domestic cleaning with hard floor surfaces is to sweep. This action removes dust and dirt that can otherwise scratch the floor surface if left for too long. To vacuum hard floor surfaces, you should attach a floor brush attachment to your vacuum cleaner. It is best not to use a beater bar attachment as this can scratch at the floor’s finish. You should aim to vacuum your hard floor surfaces at least twice a week. If you have pets or children inside, you should increase this to three or four times a week to remove any excess dirt and pet hair.
Deep cleaning
When dirt and oil and other grimy substances build up over time, they can be very harmful to hard floor surfaces. Mopping is the best line of defence against such things. In a bucket, fill up some warm water and add a few drops of cleaning detergent. Dip the mop in and wring it out until it is only damp. Then run it over the floor surfaces. After you have done this, rinse the floors with a clean cloth dampened in only water. It is important to also dry your floor surfaces with old towels. Excess moisture can otherwise be absorbed and damage the floor surfaces.
Removing stains or marks
When stains and marks occur on your hard floor surface, you should act quickly to remove it. Some ways to remove common marks include:
- Dark spots: apply a mixture of bleach or vinegar diluted with water and allow it to soak into the wood. Let it sit for an hour or so, and then rinse clean with a damp cloth.
- High heel marks: invest in a fine steel wool and floor wax. Use the wool to rub in the wax and do so in a gentle and careful manner.
- Oil based stains: cover a soft cloth in dishwashing detergent and rub this over the stain to break down the grease. After this, rinse it off with some cold water. You may need to repeat this process a few times.
- Water marks: use a fine steel wool and floor wax to rub the area. The stain should remove easier using this combination. If it doesn’t, you may need to lightly sand and clean the floor with mineral spirits and floor wax.
