Preserving Your Hardwood Floors

One of the most attractive features for home buyers in Columbus, is hardwood floors. However, a house that comes with hardwood floors, also comes with the need to know how to properly clean them. As durable and beautiful as hardwood flooring can be, a simple water spill or poor temperature control can make the boards buckle. It is important to find out exactly what kind of wood you have installed, so that you can learn the proper ways to treat it.

The first aspect to consider when it comes to maintaining and treating hardwood floors, is CLIMATE. Since hardwood is a natural product, it reacts to temperature and humidity. One extreme to the other – hot to cold – will affect your hardwood floor. If it is too hot or too cold, the boards can crack, warp, distort, or bulge. In order to avoid your floor being affected by temperature, you will want to keep the humidity level inside your home between 35% and 55%; a temperature between 60 and 80 degrees. In some circumstances, you may want to invest in a humidifier and have it run in rooms where the temperature is uncontrollable.

When it comes to preserving the look and appeal of your hardwood floors, be aware that PETS can play a major role in distressing the boards. Keep their nails trimmed in order to reduce the amount of scratches they inflict upon the wood.

HEAVY FURNITURE can also scratch and damage hardwood floors. If you are moving into a home with hardwood floors, Columbus moving companies recommend switching your heavier pieces of furniture out for lighter ones.

Over time, excessive amounts of SUNLIGHT can cause your hardwood floors to fade and discolor. If you have bought a home with hardwood floors, or if you already own a home with hardwood floors and have not been maintaining them, hang curtains and blinds to block out sunlight until you want to have a day with them open.

A great way to keep your hardwood floors looking great forever, is by investing in large area rugs to cover an entire room, or smaller area rugs to protect more commonly used areas of your home; like the front entranceway.

If you are house hunting and have come across a beautiful home that has wood floors in the kitchen, as attractive as it may make your kitchen look, it is important to know that this high traffic area is subject to many spills, potential sink pipe leaks, numerous scratches, and will result in you needing to have the floor completely replaced if it is not properly maintained. If you are building your home from scratch and have bought wood flooring that came with a warranty, that is great, but read the fine print because some warranties will exclude kitchen installments.

Doing everything possible to keep your hardwood floors safe from serious damage, but sometimes a mishap will occur here and there? Not a problem, just keep in mind to always avoid cleaners that have polish, wax, or ammonia. Only use cleaners that are specifically made for hardwood.