How to Keep Wood Floors in Peak Condition

Hardwood floors have been the most popular flooring option for quite a while now. And it’s easy to see why: they’re easy to clean, look good, and are an excellent investment. That said, while it's relatively easy to maintain, wood flooring still requires some care. If you neglect it, it will deteriorate to a point where regular cleaning doesn't help, and you'll need to refinish your flooring. So, what exactly goes into maintaining your wood flooring and keeping it in good condition? We hope to help you answer that question today, so we've put together a guide on how to keep wood floors in peak condition.

Dust the floor daily

Over time, dust builds on your wooden flooring. This dust harms the floor in a few ways, as it slowly wears away at the floor’s protective layers. This leaves the floor open to getting scratched much more quickly, so daily dusting significantly increases the lifetime of your wood floor. Additionally, a build-up of dust can make your floor look dull. And besides being harmful to your floor, dust is also an allergen. If anyone in your home has allergies, letting dust pile up can damage their health. So, daily dusting isn't only beneficial to your floor but to everyone living in the home too. Additionally, if you have pets, consider learning some helpful cleaning tips for pet owners. Certain cleaning supplies can be harmful, so you should ensure your pets are safe in the home.

Get into a routine

These tips for keeping wood floors in peak condition are useless if not done regularly. Dust and debris will gather on your floor constantly, and you must deal with them regularly. Otherwise, your flooring will deteriorate much faster. It's much better to take the time to maintain your flooring than to replace it more often. And if you don't routinely clean your flooring, it will potentially last years shorter than expected.

Additionally, if you're moving into a home with wood flooring, remember to protect it. Experts from Rockstar Pro Movers note that wood flooring is particularly delicate and can easily be damaged during a move because some of the furniture will likely be draged at least for a bit. There is also the possibility of someone dropping something heavy. So, you should rely on expert movers to help you avoid damaging your floor. But you should also place covers where necessary to prevent accidents.

Thoroughly clean the floor weekly

Dust is a daily problem, but debris will also gather on your floor over time, so thorough cleaning once a week is a must. It's essential to remember that there is also a wrong way to clean your floor. If you don't do it right, you can damage your flooring instead of maintaining it. Using too much liquid and certain chemicals will damage your flooring, while some chemical formulas are ineffective. So, you should consider using cleaning solutions specifically designed for your floor’s finish type. Another safe option is to look for non-toxic, pH-neutral cleaning formulas, as there are typically the most effective. Alternatively, consider hiring wood floor cleaning services if you're unsure how to approach the weekly cleaning. After all, if you're afraid of damaging your floor, you're better off leaving the job up to professionals. These experts will know precisely how to keep your floor clean safely.

Polish your flooring quarterly

Polishing is another crucial step in the guide on how to keep wood floors in peak condition. It's realistically only needed quarterly. Polishing your flooring extends its lifespan quite a bit and restores the wood floor's shine. However, it's important to note that you should always thoroughly clean the floor before polishing. Before starting the process, make sure there is no dust and debris. Certain types of polish can fill in whatever scratches may have occurred, improving the appearance of your floor. However, you should carefully research your options before deciding on which polish you want to use. Additionally, if you're moving long-distance into a new home, you may want to consider polishing the floor before moving in. And hire professional movers as only experts can ensure safety and guarantee you won’t damage your flooring during the move, so be careful.

Refinish the floor when needed

Refinishing your wood floor is the best way to keep it in peak condition. Refinishing means redoing the finish on your wooden floor, restoring it to its original condition. However, this is a relatively lengthy process and shouldn't be done often. Additionally, certain types of flooring, specifically those which are ¼-inch thick, can be ruined by refinishing. So, before committing, ensure you can go through the process safely. With all this in mind, refinishing should only be done when your floor shows signs of damage. Otherwise, stick to the regular cleaning and polishing schedule, and you'll be fine. And if you want to change your floor, consider some affordable ways to refresh it first. Changes don't always have to be drastic, so sticking with budget options is sometimes the best idea, but the choice is yours.

How to keep wood floors in peak condition – wrap up

Wood floors are the most popular flooring choice in today's world, and for a good reason. They come with a few benefits, the main of which is that they're effortless to clean. However, keeping your wood floor well maintained in the long run is a different story. Regular cleaning and polishing are necessary to keep your floor in good condition, and you can't miss a beat on the maintenance schedule without risking scratches and other damage on your floor. If your flooring gets damaged, refinishing is always an option if you want to restore your floor to a good condition. We hope that this guide on how to keep wood floors in peak condition helps you with maintenance.