A hardwood floor is a thing of beauty, but we often come across the complaint that they're just too difficult to maintain. However, with a hardwood floor you have the best of both worlds. You have a hard-wearing deck that is capable of taking most punishments that can be doled out by your average family, and a surface that is easy to maintain.
But, how do you keep a hardwood floor gleaming?
The good news is you don't have to be a slave to your floors. There are a couple of things you need to know before we proceed.
First, you really can have a hardwood floor that will last forever; you just need to treat it well.
And second, the shine comes from the finish and this will not last forever. So, if your floor has gotten a little dingy, the first thing you need to ask yourself is does your hardwood floor need refinishing?
The surface of any hardwood floor will need refinishing every so often to keep up that shine. So, how do you know if this is what your floor needs?
Choose a section of floor that gets the most traffic, usually at an entrance. Now, pour a small quantity of water onto the surface, a tablespoon should be enough, stand back and watch! The finish is fine if the water gathers on the surface, forming droplets. If the water starts to slowly soak through the wood, you should consider refinishing the surface, but it's not urgent. If the water quickly disappears into the wood, leaving a wet stain, your floor needs urgent attention.
You can extend the life of your finish by keeping your pets claws clipped, having a no-shoes-in-the-house rule, and using soft protectors underneath your furniture.
Another area that can dull your floors over time is waxing. This may sound counter-intuitive, but it's often a too zealous application of wax that can cause a wax build up and a dull finish. Sometimes the only solution is to strip off the old wax and start afresh. There are plenty of products on the market specifically designed for wax build up removal. It's better to hold off from applying too much wax in the first place, so don't apply more than two coats per year.
Finally, always sweep the floor before mopping. This sounds like common sense, but failing to properly sweep your hardwood floor before mopping can result in big dirty streaks, or even worse - scratches caused by grit that's got caught up in your mop.
So there you have it. Your hardwood floor should last you a lifetime with a bit of care and attention. And if the gleam fades, just treat your floor to a new finish.
