How to Maintain Your Wood Floors

Properly done house cleaning does not take a long time and improves the appearance of any home. Any room will look its best when the floors are clean, regardless of its covering or finish. When using the right materials and equipment available any housekeeper can achieve great looking floors at a minimal cost.

You can care for durable coverings and waxed wooden floors by using long handled buffers and applicators with reasonable prices. On the other hand, you can rent electric polishers inexpensively at grocery or hardware stores. Caring for various types of flooring is easier while applying self-polishing waxes with trigger control applicators that come with containers to hold the wax.

Waxed Wooden Flooring

This type of flooring is most common in many homes, with the exception of the bathrooms and kitchen areas; therefore, we shall address them here first. Often wax is applied straight to softwood flooring. However, this type of flooring as well as hardwood finishes offer an ease in maintenance and provides a most desirable appearance.

You should have your wood floors sanded down and then refinished; if the floors finish is severely worn, in high traffic areas or if the wood is not properly finished. You can do this yourself easily by renting an electric sander and sealer.

Wooden Floors

When your wooden floors are in good condition, regardless of its finish, you will care for it as if it is waxed. You should dust them on a regular basis using either an untreated mop, soft brush or a vacuum cleaner. You should polish them using an electrical polisher or a weighted buffer monthly or as needed. Worn areas deserve an application of fresh wax. You should re-wax the entire floor bi-yearly. Use a durable paste wax, liquid or even a self-polishing wax, depending on your personal preference.

Paste Wax Application

Before use, you should clean the floors thoroughly. Do this by using a liquid wax or an especially designed cleaner such as Preen, Beautiflor or Bruce?s Floor Cleaner for removing any soil that is embedded into wax flooring. Similar to liquid wax, these cleaners have a dry cleaning agent such as naphtha, wax and other useful dirt removers. They work by loosening soil, removing old wax build up and leave your floor with a film of clean wax. Read carefully the directions of any products you choose to use to achieve the best results. Here are the general instructions.

In order to remove dirt and dust, vacuum your floor carefully, before applying the cleaner, you should shake the container to mix the contents thoroughly. You can stand the can in some hot water for while or under some hot running water, if the container has been in cold storage. Shake the container. Remember do not ever heat a wax preparation over an open flame.
Wax Standing Up

There is no need to apply wax to your flooring on your hands and knees. There are special made long handled applicators for such purposes that are easy on the budget. Some are especially designed with steel wool pads that work great for the cleaning action. Simply pour a small amount of the cleaner on the floor and use the applicator to rub with the wood grain in order to loosen any dirt. You will pick up the grime with the cloth pad or by placing a cloth beneath the applicator pad. As the cloths become soiled, change them and then work until you have completely cleaned your floor.
Washing Waxed Wooden Flooring

This is seldom necessary, especially if the floor is kept well and wet, sticky substance are immediately wiped away using a damp cloth. However, you can use mild soapy water on a well-wrung cloth to wash your flooring without causing it damage. Wash only small sections at a time and then rinse the area before you move onto the next area. Remember, not to allow your floor to become too wet. When it is thoroughly dry, you should buff the floor. When it seems necessary, you should re-wax your flooring.

Any homemaker can have and maintain beautiful floors by following these basic directions.