Don’t let spills stay on your wood floors.
As soon as you notice a liquid spill, sticky stain, or any type of mess on your hardwood floors, quickly wipe it up using a soft microfiber cloth. Although wood doesn’t stain like carpet, spills can still cause damage like discoloration and warping.
Do mop wood floors with a damp cloth or mop.
You should always avoid using too much moisture when mopping your wood floors. Excess moisture can damage the wood and cause it to fade, warp, or even create mold growth beneath the flooring. Instead, use a microfiber cloth or a mop that rings out thoroughly.
Don’t vacuum wood floors with the beater bar turned on.
The beater bar on a vacuum is the mechanism that the bristles are attached to. While highly effective on carpet, the beater bar can scratch and wear down the finish on your wood floors. Some vacuums have a setting where you can stop the beater bar from turning. If not, it may be time to invest in a new vacuum where you can change this setting. The same rules apply for stiff brooms— use a soft-bristle broom to avoid scratching your floors.
Do put protective pads on furniture feet and keep pet nails trimmed.
The feet of furniture and long pet nails can also cause scratches and deep gouges on your wood floors. While some surface scratches are to be expected over time, take every precaution to avoid them. We suggest using protective pads on furniture feet and regularly trimming the nails of your pets to help avoid this.
Don’t use soaps, steam cleaners, waxes, or polishes.
Steam cleaners, soaps, waxes, and polishes can work well on some surfaces, but not hardwood floors! Steam can cause separation and damage the wood. Soaps and wax leave sticky residue and buildup behind, and polishes can actually dull hardwood finishes.
Wood Floor Cleaning in Orange County and the South Bay
The tips above can help keep your wood floors protected and in good shape. However, if you need an extra hand keeping them clean, call Immaculate Home Chem-Dry for wood floor cleaning in Orange County and the South Bay.