Oct
Hardwood flooring is an investment that offers numerous benefits to Toronto-area homeowners. Its natural beauty makes any space beautiful and increases the overall value of your home. With its incredible durability, hardwood flooring can withstand high foot traffic and daily wear and tear, making it a good long-term option.
Beyond its visual appeal and strength, hardwood flooring promotes a safer and cleaner environment. Unlike carpets, it doesn’t trap dust, allergens, or pet dander, contributing to a healthier living space.
However, since it’s a natural material, you might need to keep some things in mind if you plan to get hardwood flooring for your Toronto-area home. Let’s look at five useful maintenance tips to keep your floors beautiful longer.
5 Maintenance Tips for Hardwood Flooring for Toronto Homes
Here are five ways you can keep your hardwood floors looking new:
1. Wipe Away Spills Right Away
Wipe up spills from the wood flooring in your Toronto home immediately using a dry or slightly damp cloth. Avoid using wet or steam mops, as they can damage the wood over time. Wood also expands and contracts with moisture. Thus, keeping the temperature high (60-80°F) and humidity levels low (between 30 and 50%) is important to prevent problems like cupping, splitting, or gaps in the wood.
Moreover, be cautious of liquids like acetone, vinegar, water, ammonia, and red wine. Acetone can damage the wood’s finish. Although often used for cleaning, vinegar is acidic and can dull your floor’s surface. Standing water leads to warping and discolouration. Ammonia deteriorates the wood finish, and red wine stains can become permanent if not quickly wiped away.
2. Get Some Furniture Pads
Preventing scratches on your hardwood floors is important, and furniture pads are one of the best solutions. While some scratches are unavoidable, many can be prevented by attaching pads to the legs of chairs, sofas, tables, and other furniture. These pads are a quick, affordable way to protect your hardwood flooring, helping it stay flawless for years.
One option is chair glides, which have a felt base to allow chairs to glide smoothly without scratching the wood. Tap-in glides provide a more secure fit and better support. Adhesive felt pads are another choice but need regular replacement and cleaning, especially in high-use areas. Furniture socks are also useful as they protect floors from scratches and make it easier to slide furniture.
Furniture pads are a simple yet effective way to keep your hardwood floors looking beautiful and scratch-free. Whether you’ve purchased your floors through a hardwood flooring clearance store in Toronto or invested in premium options, they will help maintain their pristine condition.
3. Dust and Clean Daily (Especially for Pet Owners)
Regular dusting and cleaning are important for properly maintaining hardwood floors. Choose a microfiber mop and a cleaner specifically designed for hardwood flooring to avoid damaging the finish. Use a dry mop for dusting and a slightly damp mop for more thorough cleaning, avoiding excessive moisture.
If you have furry pets, daily dusting is essential to maintain your floors’ hygiene and quality. Here are some extra steps pet owners can take to protect their hardwood floors:
- Choose Harder Woods: Ask hardwood flooring suppliers in Toronto for harder woods like hickory, hard maple, or white oak, which are more resistant to scratches. Softer woods, such as pine or cherry, may scratch more easily.
- Opt for Pronounced Grain Patterns and Textures: Hardwoods with dramatic grain patterns or textured finishes help mask scratches and imperfections. Matte or satin finishes are also more forgiving.
- Trim Your Pet’s Claws: Regularly trimming your pet’s claws can significantly reduce floor scratches.
- Use Entryway Mats and Rugs: Place mats at entryways to capture dirt and moisture from pets. Check underneath the mats regularly to ensure no moisture is trapped, which can cause damage.
These daily tips will help your hardwood floors remain new and beautiful, even with pets.
4. Clean Once a Month With a Wood Floor Cleaner
Before using a wood cleaner, remove dirt, dust, pet hair, and debris with a dust mop or vacuum. To prevent surface damage, avoid using a vacuum with a beater bar attachment; use the floor-brush attachment instead.
Once the floor is dust-free, prepare your hardwood floor cleaner according to the instructions. Saturate a rag or sponge mop in the cleaning solution, then wring it out thoroughly until it is damp, not wet. Hardwood floor contractors in Toronto emphasize the importance of using a near-dry mop to avoid over-wetting the floor, as excess moisture can lead to damage. Carefully mop the floor, spreading the cleaner evenly while not soaking the wood surface.
After mopping with the cleaner, rinse the mop with clean water and wring out any excess liquid. Use the damp mop again to remove any leftover cleaner residue. To finish, wipe up any excess water with a clean, dry towel.
5. Make Sure To Refinish Every 3-5 Years
Over time, hardwood floors can start to lose their shine and show signs of wear and tear. To keep them looking their best, it is recommended that they be refinished every 3-5 years. This process involves applying a new coat of wood floor finish, which renews the surface and protects the wood underneath.
Several signs indicate when refinishing is necessary. Deep scratches are one of the most obvious. Another concern is water damage. If water has seeped through the finish, it can cause the wood to warp or develop dark stains.
A worn-out finish in high-traffic areas is another sign that refinishing is needed. You can test this by pouring some water on the floor. It is time to refinish if it soaks in and darkens the wood. Additionally, floors that appear faded or have lost their vibrancy can be revitalized through refinishing. Even if you’ve sourced your floors through a wholesale hardwood flooring company in Toronto, refinishing is key to maintaining their beauty. Changes in wood texture, such as a rough surface or noticeable grain underfoot, also indicate that the protective layer is wearing thin.
Refinishing every 3-5 years helps maintain the beauty and durability of your hardwood floors.
Hardwood flooring for your Toronto-area home will make it look beautiful and increase its value considerably. However, you need to take care of it if you want your floors to last. Pet owners, especially, may need to clean and dust daily and deep clean once a month with hardwood-friendly cleaners. Clean spills to avoid long-term damage, and refinish your hardwood floors in time to enjoy its timeless beauty. If you are looking for stylish, high-quality flooring for your home, Home Care Supply offers multiple options, such as engineered hardwood, laminate, and vinyl flooring.
