It’s about time to deck the halls and make sure that your home sparkles, too. A great way to wow your guests is with pristine hardwood floors. To get started, let’s review a few reasons your floors lose their shine in the first place.
MOPPING DIRTY FLOORS
Always make sure that you sweep thoroughly before you whip out the mop. Seems obvious, but you might not even realize that your regular broom isn’t getting all the dirt. And, using a regular broom can actually scratch and dull your floors. We recommend sweeping with a dust mop or using a wood-safe vacuum to get all the dirt. Then you can go over them with a mop.
USING THE WRONG CLEANER
Not all wood flooring is the same, therefore not all wood floor cleaners are the same. Always find out what the floor manufacturer recommends using on your hard surfaces. Yes, their products tend to be a bit pricier than what you can get at the bargain store, but it’s a small price to pay to keep your floors looking great and lasting a lifetime. You’ll be happy to hear that you shouldn’t use too much of any cleaner on your floors. As they say “less is more” and “a little bit goes a long way.” This is especially true for hard surface cleaners. Using too much will leave streaks, and streaks lead to a dull finish.
LETTING THEM AIR DRY
As soon as you’re done mopping, buff it dry. It can be tempting to let your clean floors air dry, but that will also leave streaks. You can use a microfiber cloth or a flat mop head to buff it out and make a huge difference.
TOO WAXY
Some manufacturers recommend waxing your hardwoods twice per year. Some homeowners get carried away and wax more often, which can leave you with dull floors due to wax build-up. You’ll need a professional cleaner to remove this build-up and restore the sheen.
FADING FINISH
Finally, if your floors are still lacking the luster, it may be time to refinish them. The love you have for your hardwoods may last forever, but the finish will not. You can test this by sprinkling a few drops of water onto the surface of your floor. If the water beads up, the finish is good. However, if the water soaks right in and leaves a grayish spot, the finish needs to be redone.
Carpet Tech’s experienced team can apply a coat of stain, sealant, and finish for that brand new hardwood look that will last for years to come. And we can do it at a price that’s better than you think! Contact us today for a free quote.
