put a doormat in front of all external
entrances to your home. This will prevent
dirt, sand and grit being brought into your home which could scratch your new floors
and collect moisture which could make your floor slippery. All hardwood and laminate floors regardless of what type of finish need
to be maintained properly to keep the
beauty long lasting.
- Place area rugs or doormats at entryways to help prevent abrasive or staining materials from being tracked onto the floor surface from outdoors. Avoid rubber backed or similarly dense matting materials that may trap moisture between the mat and the floor.
- Place protective mats at high use work areas such as sinks and workstations.
- Protect the floor from any exposure to liquids, water or other forms of moisture.
- Use a damp, not wet, and clean cloth to wipe up spilled food, drink or other liquid immediately.
- Never wet mop the floor when cleaning.
- Avoid walking on the floor with wet feet or footwear.
- Install felt pads or soft bottomed castors on the feet of all furniture and accessories that will be placed directly onto the floor surface.
- Avoid letting sharp or pointed objects come into contact with the floor. Do not walk on the floor with high heeled shoes or other types of footwear which may damage the finish or cause marks or scuffs to the surface.
- Do not drag, push or roll appliances, furniture or any other objects across the floor.
- Never use any household or furniture dust remover, polish or similar products.
- Never use any steel wool, scouring pad or any other abrasive cleaners.
- Never use vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors. These can cause wood to become slippery and dull.
- Remember, some sports shoes and high heels can dent any floor surface.
- If you're moving heavy furniture, pick it up and carry it rather than sliding it over the floor.
- For kitchen floors, place an area rug in front of the kitchen sink - this tends to get the heaviest wear.
- Use a humidifier in the home through winter months to keep all wood movement and shrinkage to a minimum.
- Make sure you trim your pet's nails as these can scratch your floor.
- Check that your vacuum cleaner's wheels aren't dragging.
- Use a soft bristled broom, not one designed for outdoor use.
when updating and maintaining your home. However, it’s important that you know how
to properly care for hardwood to ensure
that your flooring lasts for generations.
The first thing to remember in caring for
wood floors is that they can be easily scratched when heavy objects are dragged across them. For this reason, it is always
best to lift furniture when moving it instead
of dragging it across the floor. It is also
helpful to install felt tips on furniture legs or place the furniture on top of an area rug;
that way, you minimize the potential for scratching that is there when sofas and
chairs are slightly moved about in the
up. High-heels are also likely to cause scratches on wood floors, so it’s best not to wear them around the house all of the time.
If you do wear heels indoors, make sure
that heels aren’t sharp i.e. made of metal or steel. Dog’s nails are another way that hardwood floors can be scratched. So
regularly trim your dog’s nails to avoid the scratches that are left behind.
Too much direct sunlight can occasionally cause discoloration, so make sure that you
use curtains and blinds to minimize sun damage. However, this is fairly rare
especially in Glasgow and the surrounding areas, so your flooring should not be
affected by minimal, seasonal sunlight as it would in sunnier climates. When you are caring for hardwood floors, you must be
If these simple steps are followed, then your hardwood floors will not suffer many scratches or dings and they will stay beautiful for years to come.
Laminate flooring always looks good, but it requires some maintenance to keep its beauty. Proper cleaning is a must as they will attract dirt. Here we have some tips to help you learn how to clean laminate flooring properly.
The first step is to sweep away any dust or debris that is lying on the laminate flooring. Make sure you use a soft bristled brush rather than an outdoor brush to avoid scratching the surface and ruining your laminate.
For patch cleaning, use a soft cloth to blot up spills right when they happen. Never let the liquid sit for any length of time. For tougher stains like crayon or lipstick, wet a cloth with nail polish, and dab the stain.
For whole floor cleaning use only water and vinegar mixed together. This simple mix removes most stains and it does not leave any streaking. Mix half a cup of vinegar with a gallon of water and use a soft to absorb
out at once. Mop only small sections at a
time in the direction of the actual laminate floor pattern.
Take clean, soft towels, and drying the
entire floor to prevent any warping. This will give a nice, clean sheen.
Hardwood
Regular cleaning is the best way to
maintain your flooring and make it last for years. It is not too difficult to clean
hardwood floors and prevention is the best way to cut down on the cleaning time.
A welcome mat at the front door where people can rub the dirt off of their feet will keep much of this dirt from entering the home. Having a rule to keep wet shoes on
the front porch, in the garage, or anywhere else besides the hardwood floor itself will prevent mud and water from staining or warping the floor.
Sweep your floors with a soft broom that
will not scratch the finish of the floor.
Vacuum your floor with a lightweight
Mopping is another step that should be followed on a consistent basis. If you use a soaking mop the water will damage the floor, causing it to warp or allowing stains to set into the wood. Use the vinegar/water mix as recommended above.
Persistent stains or grease spots are going to require a professional cleaner such as oil soap. There are many brands available and you should patch test in a hidden area experiment to make sure that the soap you have chosen does not stain the wood or leave a residue behind.
With a little care, cleaning hardwood floors is not difficult to clean and will ensure that your flooring maintains its beautiful finish.
