Home Improvement Information

Hardwood Floors: Beautiful, But a Pain to Keep Clean


Hardwood Floors are beautiful to look at and expensive to install. But keeping them clean is not necessarily the easiest thing to do. Growing up in a house with hardwood floors, I know how hard it was for my Mom to keep the floors shiny, especially with four kids. With two boys and two girls constantly running in and out of the house with various forms of the "outside world" caked to our shoes, I believe my Mom finally just gave up. If she had followed even the basic rules for keeping a hardwood floor clean with the four of us tracking Mother Nature in on a daily basis, she wouldn't have had time for anything else.

Dirt and dust is your hardwood floor's worst enemy. Though microscopic in size, the minute granules scratch your hardwood floor's finish and over time transforms your mirror-finished floor into a floor more reminiscent of the floors of the log cabins inhabited long ago by our ancestors. Following are some tips to keep your investment shiny and new for years to come.

Though there are many manufacturers of hardwood floors to choose from, and they all have their own rules for keeping your floor clean and grit-free, there are some basic rules you can follow to keep your floors looking good.

For surface finishes:

Always use the manufacturer's recommended cleaning products. If the manufacturer is not known, use a generic cleaning hardwood floor cleaner.

When little Junior spills his soda on a daily basis, wipe it up immediately with a damp cloth.

For stubborn stains, lightly dampen a cloth with the manufacturer's recommended cleaner and apply directly to the stain. Do not use petroleum-based cleaners on water-based finishes.

And when the floor loses its luster and shine, it's time to recoat. Unless you yourself are a professional floor cleaner, hire someone.

For wax finishes:

Dry mop regularly with an untreated dust mop. Vacuum, sweep or dust mop regularly to remove grit from the floor.

Junior can spill his soda on waxed floor as easily as he can on a surface finish. Follow the same instructions.

To remove water spots, use a fine steel wool and a small amount of mineral spirits.

Floors should be cleaned, stripped and rewaxed once or twice a year depending on traffic.

Preventative maintenance for all finishes:

Floor protective pads on the bottoms of furniture. Scatter rugs at entrances will help trap the grit from shoes that is your hardwood floor's worst enemy. Sweep, vacuum or dust mop both the floor and rugs on a regular basis.

To put it simply, cleaning hardwood floors is not rocket science. It just requires a little effort on the consumer's part. Dirt, grime and dust, though small and almost naked to the human eye in most cases, are your hardwood floor's worst enemy. Keep these enemies of your floor cleaned on a regular basis and you will enjoy a lustrous, shiny floor for years to come.

You may use this article on your site as long as you hyperlink the 2 URLs.

Allen Shaw is a successful author who provides tips and information on hardwood flooring and wood flooring in general.

"I am the news director at USA News Network and have been working as freelance writer for 2 years. I've been published in a few magazines, newspapers and websites and my specialty up to this point has been movie and music reviews."


MORE RESOURCES:

OnTheRedCarpet.com

'Home Improvement' Kid Charged with DUI and Hash Possession
TMZ.com
Former "Home Improvement" star Taran Noah Smith has been charged with driving under the influence and possession of hash stemming from an arrest earlier this month ... TMZ has learned. We broke the story ... the 27-year-old was popped in LA County on ...
Former Home Improvement Child Star Nailed With DUI, Drug ChargesE! Online
Home Improvement's Taran Noah Smith Charged With Possession…And DUI!PerezHilton.com
Taran Noah Smith of 'Home Improvement' charged with DUI, drug possessionOnTheRedCarpet.com
Contactmusic.com
all 8 news articles »


2012 Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Show
OnMilwaukee.com
The 50th annual Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Show is an opportunity for Milwaukee/NARI members to demonstrate 50 years worth of ideas for your home. More than 700 booth spaces will feature providers of thousands of home improvement products and ...
NARI Spring Home Improvement Show This WeekendWISN Milwaukee

all 2 news articles »


Tackling Home Improvement Jobs? Read These Tips First!
Brunei News, Brunei Headlines from Brunei fm
Although it can be overwhelming at times, many home improvement projects can be accomplished by the average do-it-yourself homeowner. If you want to increase the value of your property or just make it more livable here are some great suggestions.



FEMA Thanks Home Improvement Stores
WBGH
FEMA is thanking local home improvement stores for their assistance in educating the public following September's flooding. Wednesday, FEMA representatives visited the Lowe's on Upper Front Street and presented the employees with a plaque and letter of ...



Hot Topics: Wolf hunting |Dishonest doctors |Ancient lake |NARI Home ...
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
And some have decided that if they're not going anywhere, they're going to improve where they are, said Wayne Abendschein, chairman of this year's Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Show. "People are completing that basement remodel, that kitchen remodel ...
Milwaukee/NARI 50th Home Improvement ShowJournal Times

all 2 news articles »


Hot trends for spring home improvement projects
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Whether you're remodeling to stay put, or putting your home on the market, consider home improvement and design trends as you plan your renovation projects. Need a color boost? Fresh color recommendations from the Pantone Color Institute include ...

and more »


Home Front: news from the home improvement community
Naples Daily News
Jean Crowley, of Jean Crowley Interiors, and Leslie Hall and will show you how to refresh homes with color. Hall will discuss installation possibilities and Crowley will have the latest designer fabrics on display at a seminar at 1:30 pm Feb.



DIY home improvement classes offered at RLC
Benton Evening News
Rend Lake College Community and Corporate Education is offering three home improvement courses to show students how to do the basics themselves and save money. Weatherization will be held 9 am to 12 pm Saturday, February 11. Students will learn how to ...

and more »


FEMA Thanks Home Improvement Stores for Valuable Help
WBGH
In a gesture of thanks, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has presented Certificates of Appreciation to staff and managers at three Broome County home improvement stores for hosting Community Education and Outreach Events in the wake of ...
FEMA Thanks Home Improvement Stores for SupportFOX 40 News WICZ TV

all 2 news articles »


BBC News

Home improvement firm staff in Plymouth face job losses
BBC News
More than 50 staff at a home improvement company call centre in Plymouth are facing losing their jobs. Everest Ltd said it was consulting with staff on the possibility of 51 jobs going if it closes its St Andrew's Court office.

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006