Hardwood flooring is durable, made to withstand years of abuse and use while still looking beautiful. Nevertheless, over time they may begin to seem dull or scratched from moving around furniture or appliances.
But you can make some little changes which will have a significant, positive effect on your floors, without having to take out a loan or hire a professional.
1. MAKE YOUR OLD HARDWOOD FLOORS LOOK NEW
When was the last time you refinished your flooring ? Perhaps it seems like it has to be done, but most times, it is not actually essential. You only need to do something to it, not only to regain its beauty but also for some extra protection.
Instead of getting quotes for refinishing your hardwood floors, you may only require a recoating. Recoating adds a new layer of protection which adheres to the previous or original flooring finish; this is a safer, quicker and easier process than completely refinishing the floor.
The fresh coat of finish, when placed on top of the old end, will enhance the look of your floors and include security while saving you money and time.
If you have to perform a complete refinishing on account of the age and condition of your hardwood floors, you may be able to change the colour as you're at it to get a fresh new appearance.
2. GO FOR LIGHT CLEANING TO GET CONSISTENT FLOOR SHINE
Cleaning hardwood floors don't need to be a strenuous, time-consuming task. But you ought to be sure you're using the right cleaning solution so you don't harm the floors.
If your floors includes a wax finish, you should use a cleaning/waxing chemical to remove any embedded dirt and then put in a fresh coat of wax to the floor.
If you've got Polyurethane-coated hardwood floors, you merely desire a water and vinegar solution to give them a good cleaning.
HOW CAN YOU TELL WHAT FINISH IS ON YOUR FLOORS?
Drip some water on it. If the water warms up and remains on top of the floorboards, you most likely have a polyurethane finish. You are able to keep a bottle of water and vinegar on hand for quick clean-ups.
If the dripped water soaks into the floor, it is most likely a wax finish and you're going to need the compounding cleaner.
In between regular cleanings, you may use a sterile dust mop or broom to sweep up dry spills.
3. CHECK THE TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY LEVELS IN YOUR HOME
A very simple change of your thermostat can have a positive or negative influence on your hardwood flooring. Since woods are naturally porous, they will expand and contract during the year depending on the season.
Extreme humidity and dampness in the atmosphere can cause the timber to buckle or make gaps between the floorboards in case you are not practicing good care.
The ideal configurations for protecting and maintaining beautiful hardwood flooring over time are:
Temperature: 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: 30-50 percent
4. USE FLOOR PROTECTORS ON FURNITURE TO AVOID MAJOR DAMAGE
In case you have young people residing with you, you've probably at some time had to tell them to pick up the dining area or kitchen chair to go it and not slide it across the ground, which could easily start scratching the floor with the constant scraping.
No matter which type of wood flooring you've got, all woods have the natural propensity to sustain scratches or dents. In spite of a quality finish on the flooring, hardwood floors are still susceptible to some harm. If your floors are made out of hickory or hard maple wood, they left be resistant to dents, however it's always better to be safe and not risk the damage.
Adding furniture pads into the bottoms of chair legs will eliminate the possibility of this seat scratching the floor as the chair scrapes back into place.
Whenever you need to move heavy furniture around or simply slide a seat to a different area within the room, it is best to use rugs or furniture pads to protect against any potential damage to your floors from scratching.
5. ACCENT AREA RUGS IN HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS OF YOUR ROOM
You may not want to fully pay your hardwood flooring with wall-to-wall carpeting, particularly if the floors are freshly installed or newly refinished or recoated.
However, you can accent regions of a room or rooms with a quality area carpet to underline the decor and match the beauty of the floor.
You wish to pick rugs which not only highlight the decor of your room, but you also want to complement and bring out the beauty of the floors .
Along with the area rug, it's ideal to put a thick rug mat under it for added comfort. Thicker pads are best used under furniture which won't be transferred frequently, like a coffee or side table.
To maintain the carpet from slipping around in an open area, select thinner pads which provide more grip and keep the rug flush with the ground. This also prevents people from potentially tripping on the borders of the carpet.
Use caution when deciding where to place an area rug, though. If the area receives direct sun, as an example, the kitchen or even a Florida area, direct sunlight can lighten the hardwood flooring except where the rug is.
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