It’s hard to beat the natural beauty of real hardwood flooring. That’s why Dorsey Family Homes comes with hardwood as a standard upgrade option. But let’s not tip-toe around the issue—the elegance of hardwood can dull quickly with regular wear and tear from your feet.
Scuffs from high heels, dirt tracked in on the kid’s shoes, and fur-covered claws can do a real number on the condition of your wood floor. Dorsey Family Homes arebuilt to last, and we want to help keep your flooring in tip-top shape.
With proper care and cleaning, your hardwood floor will impress for decades. Our professional team has gathered the best cleaning practices for your hardwood floors.
Sweep Regularly
Dust and dirt is unattractive, but even worse, it can be abrasive. This causes the surface of your floor to dull. Roll up your sleeves, grab a broom, and sweep high-traffic areas often.
You can also vacuum your hardwood floor, but only if your vacuum a “hard floor” setting. This changes the height of your vacuum and turns off the brush feature. The bristles of the brush can scratch the floor, so you’ll want to make sure your vacuum is only using suction.
Be gentle as you roll the vacuum over your floors. Rubber wheels are easy on your floor, but plastic wheels are harder and can damage the wood.
Need some inspiration to get motivated? Check out ourgalleryof living areas that feature glossy natural wood.
Mop Gently
Areas that get a lot of use should be mopped once a week. If your floors are sealed, you can use a gentle wood cleaning soap to improve the shine. Natural products, likeMurphy’s Wood Oil,are a safe and eco-friendly way to clean with soap.
Dilute the soap in a bucket of water. Wet your mop and ring most of the water out. Your mop should be just damp enough to wet the surface without leaving behind excess water. Be very careful during this step—drips and puddles that get left behind can cause water spots and staining.
Rinse the mop frequently and speed up the drying process by turning on a fan.
Rejuvenate With Protective Products
Revitalize your floor with a hardwood floor polish. These products create a gleaming surface, while filling and minimizing small scuffs and scratches. If you want your wood floors extra shiny, go for a high-gloss finish option.
To really enhance the warm, rich appearance of your floor, invest some time into cleaning with ahardwood floor wax. Waxes deep clean while providing a satin finish that protects from stains and damage.
Whatever products you use for cleaning and protecting your floors, always apply them by following the grain of the wood.
Hardwood is one of the most popular picks for flooring in custom homes. Curious about your flooring choices? Call (443) 463-4771 today to discuss the upgrade possibilities in your Dorsey Family Home!
