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By: Mike Kildea
Wooden floors can - quite literally - last you a lifetime
and look as good as new throughout. That is - they can if
you look after them. And, unfortunately, wood flooring requires
more than just sweeping and vacuuming to keep them in great
condition.
As someone who runs a business solely supplying wood floors,
I am often asked how best to maintain wood floors, so here
are my top ten tips to keep your flooring in perfect condition.
i) Protect Your Floor From Furniture - Put protective pads
under the legs of furniture, most particularly chairs.
ii) Clean Your Floors With Proper Wood Cleaners - Use floor
cleaners specially designed for hardwood floors.
iii) Add Rugs and Mats - Putting down thick rugs and floor
mats in areas that get the most foot traffic will help ensure
the longevity of your wood floors.
iv) Do Not Use Wet Mops - This could warp your flooring over
time and may result in discolouration.
v) Avoid High Street Cleaning Products - Many of these contain
ammonia and substances that could damage your floor. Only
use cleaners that are specifically designed for hardwood flooring.
vi) Entrance Mats – Use good quality entrance mats
and dirt scrapers at all exterior doors and at the front door
of your apartment.
vii) High Heel Shoes - Even the lightest, skinniest woman
can dent a wooden floor when wearing high heel shoes due to
the pressure they exert. Don't walk on a wooden floor in high
heels.
viii) Clean Up Immediately - Tracking dirt around your floor
or leaving spills will certainly damage your flooring over
time. Clean up spillages, dirt, grease immediately and your
floor will keep its looks for longer.
ix) Heat and Sunlight - Excess heat and direct sunlight can
cause changes of colour in wooden flooring and even shrinkage.
Regulate the heating, and humidity allow ventilation especially
in conservatories.
x) Lacquer - New coats of lacquer can be easily applied when
the finish starts to look tired. If you leave it too long
the old finish will have to be completely removed by a professional.
Follow these ten tips and your wood floor really will last
you a lifetime.
About The Author
Mike Kildea is owner of London based wood flooring suppliers
Wood4Floors. UK customers can request free flooring samples.
See their website at http://www.wood4floors.co.uk.
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