Hardwood flooring can add warmth and charm to your home. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not know the proper way to care for their flooring, and they end up making mistakes that sometimes results in damage. If you have hardwood flooring in your home, here are a few of those mistakes that could be harmful to yours.
Overlooking the Importance of Preventative Care
Before you can focus on a cleaning regimen for your hardwood flooring, you need to think about ways to protect it from various elements. Taking the time to prevent damage can save you money and time spent on trying to properly clean the floors.
There are several ways you can protect your flooring. For instance, you can use felt under your furniture to move it instead of allowing the legs to scrape across the flooring. You can also ask everyone to either remove their shoes in the home or to wipe them off before walking inside.
Putting Off Cleaning
Cleaning your flooring might not be your favorite household chore, but it is necessary. Over time, grime and dirt build up on the surface of the floors. The longer it is allowed to remain, the more challenging it will be to remove it when you are ready. There is also the added possibility that the grime on the floor could penetrate it and leave damage that will have to be professionally treated.
Ideally, you should move to clean up spills as soon as they occur. In high traffic areas, you need to be more vigilant about watching for spills and stains. At least once a week, you need to check your flooring and perform some maintenance cleaning when necessary.
Relying on an Oil-Based Cleaner
An oil-based cleaner might seem like a good idea for your hardwood flooring. Some homeowners believe that it can help to make the floor shine. However, the oil can be damaging to the floor. In fact, the oil in some cleaners can have the opposite effect desired and lead to the floor appearing to be dull.
Read the manufacturer's manual to discover the recommended products to use for your flooring. You can also learn of ways to make your floor shine without stripping it of its natural luster.
Due to the potential damage that can be done to your hardwood flooring if it is not properly cared for, consider hiring a cleaning service, such as Fresh Start Cleaning. Skilled professionals will know how to care for your flooring and can even help with other interior cleaning that needs to be performed.
