There is really little or no difference in caring for wide plank floors versus ordinary hardwood floors. Here are some “Do’s” and “Don’ts” that should keep your wood floors looking beautiful, year after year.
DO:
- Sweep your floor regularly, either with a soft bristle broom, or vacuum it with a soft floor attachment.
- Clean up spills immediately — a damp paper towel is perfect for the job.
- Use floor mats at entrypoints and doorways to prevent grit or dirt getting on the floor, which can scratch the finish.
- Clean the floor occasionally with a high quality wood floor cleaner. Several cleaning products are listed below.
- Put a barrier between furniture feet or legs, and your floor. Felt pads or plastic gliders work well.
- When you’re trying a new cleaning product, test in an inconspicuous area first.
DON’T:
- Don’t wax over a urethane finish.
- Don’t get the floor overly wet — wet mopping is not good for a wood floor.
- Don’t use cleaning products designed for tile floors on your wood floor. Follow manufacturer recommendations. If you don’t know what kind of finish is on your floor, check with a wood flooring professional in your area.
- Don’t walk on the floor wearing sharp-edged footwear, such as stiletto heels, sports cleats, etc.
- Don’t slide heavy furniture around on your wood floor. The head of a nail in a couch foot could rip a gouge in your floor before you know it.
- Don’t try refinishing or restoring a worn floor by yourself. Contact a professional if your floor appears worn beyond a point where cleaning or buffing is helpful.
Here are a couple of manufacturer’s websites where you can review their wood flooring cleaning products:
For further reading, there is a good discussion about taking care of hardwood floors at this iVillage Home and Garden page.
A well cared for hardwood floor
Image courtesy of Stinson’s Home Design Center.
