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Prevention

One of the best ways to maintain your hardwood floors is to prevent them from being scratched as much as possible. To do this, we recommend:

 1. Covering high traffic areas where people wear shoes (including front and back doors) with floor mats.

 Shoes are notorious for scratching hardwood, so putting down large floor mats when people are putting on and taking off their shoes is an easy way to prevent scratches from happening altogether.

2. Use floor protectors under furniture, such as furniture pads under your couches and office chair.

When furniture moves, even a little bit, it can scratch your beautiful hardwood floors. Furniture pads and chair mats put a layer of protection between your hardwood floors and your furniture.

3. Put area rugs down in play rooms and children’s bedrooms. 

Believe it or not, toys can actually scratch soft hardwood floors. Putting rugs down will prevent this damage!

4. Be proactive with pets.

 Pets damage is quite common in households with hardwood floors. Cleaning up urine spots quickly should be enough to prevent permanent damage to your floors. Clipping your cat and/or dog’s nails regularly can decrease scratching as they walk indoors. Cats can benefit from having scratching posts and other scratching toys around the house to deter them from turning to the floors. Regularly exercising your dog outdoors can decrease the amount that they run inside, which could also scratch hardwood floors. 

 Regular Cleaning

 As explained by the Hardwood Floor Magazine, dirt and dust can scratch hardwood floors. Further, over time, dirt and grime can be absorbed, leading to discoloration and damage. Hardwood floors should be gently cleaned weekly for maximum protection.

• Sweeping

Sweeping before using a one-step mop such as a Swiffer or microfiber mop will help remove dust, dirt, and pet hair from your floors. 

•  Vacuuming

Many people think that vacuuming is exclusively for carpet- but that’s not the case! Vacuuming can be a quick and easy way to remove dirt and pet hair from hardwood floors- especially in corners or along the wall! Just be sure to use the hose on it’s own, as rougher attachments with the brush heads can scratch hardwood floors. 

•  Microfiber mops and Swiffers

Once they have been cleared of debris, mops with microfiber heads are gentle on hardwood, and great at picking up dirt and dust. Swiffering pads are also gentle enough to use on most hardwood floors, and can help remove dirt from the surfaces of your hardwood floors regularly. In fact, Swiffer has a line of cleaning solutions that are specifically formulated for hardwood floors. 

Deep cleaning

 

Regular sweeping, vacuuming, and/or Swiffering will help keep your hardwood floors clean from week to week. However, once or twice a year, hardwood floors require a deep cleaning to maintain their shine. We recommend doing this in the winter and spring.

• Comprehensive mopping

Using a good ‘ol fashioned mop is a tried and true way to maintain your hardwood floors between professional cleaning appointments. The key with mopping is to avoid water sitting on your hardwood floors, as they will absorb the water and become damaged. Here are a few tips to keep them as dry as possible while you clean:

1. Wring out your mop thoroughly before putting it down on your hardwood.
2. After cleaning, immediately dry with a towel. 
3. Turn on any ceiling fans and open windows to help decrease drying time. 

In addition, there are many products on the market that have been formulated to be gentle on hardwood floors and effective at deep cleaning them. Check out these top hardwood floor cleaners recommended by Spruce Magazine— but always read all manufacturer’s instructions for the products and your flooring before use. 

• Professional cleaning

If you don’t want to get down and dirty with your hardwood floors, a professional cleaning is an easy solution! Professional cleaners have specialized equipment that is designed to clean and polish hardwood floors. At Sammamish Carpet Cleaning, our process begins with a state of the art floor cleaning system to remove dirt, dust, oil and minor scuffs. We don’t just clean the surface, we lift tough dirt and oil that hides below the surface. Once your floors are glistening, hardwood preservation satin finish is applied that is designed to cover the existing hardwood flooring. Your wood floors will be rejuvenated with a long-term protection and a streak-free shine. We recommend doing this deep clean and polish every three to five years.

 

Do you have any photos of your sparkling hardwood floors after using these tips? We’d love to see them! Feel free to tag us on Facebook @SammamishCarpetCleaning.

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