Hardwood floors never go out of style. The ideal look for hardwood is polished and shining, not trodden and scratched. So how can you keep your beautiful hardwood floors clean year-round in Denver, Colorado? Here are five simple steps to follow for an everlasting finish.
Be a Duster Buster
Think of what dust, sand, and dirt can do to the shiny surface of your hardwood floors. To keep these things from getting kicked up and spread around the house and damaging your floors, do a swift dusting on a weekly basis. Although most people are taught to sweep their hardwood, its best to wipe down floors instead. Sweeping can scuff floors and spread more dust than anything. Opt for a microfiber dust mop to pick up all the dust, grime, and pet-hair that sits on your hardwood floors.
Door Mat Magic
As simple as an entry mat may seem, it can go a long way in protecting your hardwood floors while keeping them clean. Having a doormat that is long enough to take two to three steps will help trap debris before it reaches your precious floors. While you are at the door mat, make sure to remove your shoes, further preventing the spread of dirt throughout your home.
The Perfect Vacuum
Finding a hardwood floor friendly vacuum is important in extending the life of your floors. Make sure to get a vacuum that doesn’t have a beater bar, the bristled bar that runs down the center of standard vacuums. A spinning bristle bar can scuff or scratch the floor, creating crevasses that can store dust or dirt in your home. A vacuum with a suction hose, one without a beater bar or one you can disable, is the best choice for hardwood floors. Alternatively, you can use a vacuuming robot to clean your floors if you indulge in the tech-inspired pleasures of life.
Mopping “The Right Way”
When it comes to mopping hardwood floors, less is more. Make sure to follow the instructions to dilute your cleaning agent if you use one or have a homemade recipe. You want to wring your mop head almost dry, so it is just damp to the touch. When it comes to actually mopping, move in the direction of the floorboards and turn on a ceiling fan or A/C to help speed up the drying. Don’t allow standing water when you are mopping, as it will damage your floors. Deep cleaning and mopping should be done to remove grime and build up, but not often enough to remove the coating on your hardwood.
DIY Deep Clean
When it comes time to do your occasional hardwood floor deep clean, there are a few ways to do it yourself. Follow the mopping steps above using one of these gentle yet effective DIY hardwood floor cleaners:
- 1 gallon lukewarm water + 1 cup white vinegar (customize the scent with a drop of your favorite essential oil)
- 1 teabag + 2 cups boiling water, cooled to room temperature (use a mop or a cloth, wring it almost dry, wipe floors in the direction of the boards)
Keep these simple wood cleaning tips in mind in your Denver home, and your wooden floors will sparkle all the time. If you are in the market for new hardwood floors, head to a Carpet Mill Outlet store near you to compare a wide variety of hardwood floors for your home. Visit one of the twelve locations along the Front Range, Greater Denver area, and Fort Collins to find the best flooring in Colorado today.
