Because of the variety of woods, patterns, and stains available, hardwood floors are a long-lasting option that enhances the value and uniqueness of practically any house. Although hardwood floors are classic, if they are not properly maintained, they will eventually show signs of aging.
Pet claws and furniture can scratch wood floors, and years of high foot traffic, filthy cleaning supplies, or cleaning agents that damage or leave buildup on the original sheen will dull them. There are a few more things you can do to keep your dull wood floors looking shiny, so you fall in love with them, even if a thorough sanding and refinishing work would be necessary to restore severely damaged wood flooring.
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Best Ways to Revive Your Hardwood Floors
Proper Deep Cleaning
Since most of us don’t have the time to thoroughly clean hardwood floors once a week, we often give them a fast once-over, which can leave dirt and product residue behind and cause the finish to seem worn out and dull over time. The floors might look amazing, though, if you take the time to give them a thorough cleaning.
First Step
To eliminate loose dust and grime, clear the floor of everything and reposition the furniture so that you can dust mop every area with a cloth or a little moist microfiber mop. If the mop gets really dirty while you’re working, give it a good rinse with warm water and squeeze out any extra water. A dirty mop does not remove dirt; it merely pushes it around.
Step Two
Pour warm water and a hardwood-safe cleaner into a sink or pail. This kind of cleanser won’t leave a sticky residue that draws dirt and dulls the floor. Make sure you adhere to the product label’s mixing guidelines. After dipping a microfiber mop into the solution, squeeze it until it’s just moist. Rinse your mop often and work on tiny areas.
Step Three
After cleaning each area, use a fresh, dry cloth or microfiber mop to restore the floor’s shine.
To Bring Back the Shine, Polish and Buff
After cleaning your floor, a smart technique to fill in microscratches and add shine is to use a hardwood polish or wax. A water-based polish works best on hardwood floors that have a polyurethane finish. Older homes may have floors with a wax finish that needs to be polished with a wax-based polish. Knowing what kind of finish your floors have is crucial since the wrong kind of polish might detract from their appearance.
Choose a discrete area and place a few droplets of water on the floor if you’re unsure of your finish type. You have a wax finish if white spots show up after ten minutes. Polyurethane is used to seal the floor if the water doesn’t absorb and instead beads up.
To prevent streaking, always apply the polish evenly and according to the product’s instructions. When the polish has dried, buff the floor to finish. To allow the polish to completely cure before buffing, it is normally better to work in tiny parts and avoid foot traffic for up to 24 hours following application. Utilize a rotary-action floor polisher, a microfiber mop, or a microfiber cloth for hand buffing. You can buy or rent floor polishers.
Sand, Reseal, and Refinish
A hardwood floor will eventually deteriorate to the point where only a thorough refinishing will restore its shine due to extreme wear or sun fading. When that occurs, you have to start from scratch. If you have the necessary tools, you can do the work yourself or contact a professional flooring firm to do it for you. It’s a messy task, anyway. It can, however, preserve the appearance of your flooring for ten years or longer if done properly.
To start, the top layer of wood covered in scratches, polish residue, and the original stain and sealer is removed using a sander with a vacuum bag connected. After that, you can choose nearly any stain color you like. Because different wood species have varying stain reactions, it is best to test a variety of stains. Finally, a sealant—typically long-lasting polyurethane—is applied. A variety of finishes are available, ranging from high gloss to satin.
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