Engineered hardwood flooring is highly valued by homeowners thanks to its easy installation, long lifespan, and, of course, the elegance and design it brings to a space. When you have beautiful wood floors in your house, you want to take every precaution to preserve them.
Unfortunately, the concept of a mess-proof floor does not exist. Even brand-new engineered hardwood flooring will begin to display signs of wear and tear, including pet hair, scratches, filth, and more.
Thankfully, maintaining beautiful floors doesn't require the services of a professional cleaning company. Once you know what to do, the equipment to use, and how to reduce mess and damage, you can establish a regimen for care and upkeep that suits your lifestyle and your home.
So, let's look at how you can care for and maintain your engineered wood flooring.
How To Clean and Maintain Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Dirt accumulates on every floor because a home is a living space. Regrettably, engineered hardwood floors are also exposed to dust and debris more than other types of flooring. It is noticeable when your pet sheds or when your children track in dirt from playing outside since there are no grooves or fibres on the material to hide in.
While this may get tedious, it also makes it easy to determine when the floors need cleaning. You can promptly clean up messes rather than allow dust, hair, and filth to linger on your carpet or tile for days.
In addition to looking cleaner, your house will also have fewer pollutants and allergens that could make you sick. There's no need for your cleaning regimen to be difficult. It's easy to deal with spills and maintain your floors shining like the day you put them in if you know the methods and form a habit.
Sweep Frequently To Avoid Dust Accumulation
Consequently, the most popular and straightforward method for cleaning engineered hardwood floors is to become familiar with your broom. Sweep frequently to keep the following pollutants under control:
Loose dirt
Dust
Pet hair
Additionally, you can use a small vacuum but avoid devices with rotating bristle bars because they might damage your floors. Use a floor-brush attachment or the bare floor option on your vacuum's beater bar if it has one.
The amount of traffic on your flooring will determine how frequently you clean or hoover. You might need to sweep more regularly, such as once a day or twice a week, in busier places, like hallways or entryways. Rooms with low foot activity might just require your attention once every week.
Clean With A Damp Mop To Prevent Dullness
Periodically mopping your floors is also essential. Likewise, how frequently you do this will depend on how much traffic your floors receive. A mop might be used once a week in rooms with more foot activity but just once a month in less-utilised spaces. It's also time to get the mop out if your engineered hardwood floor starts to look dull.
Keep your mop or towel slightly damp rather than wet at all times. Despite the fact that engineered hardwood flooring is more water-resistant than solid hardwood, you still need to take precautions to prevent moisture from seeping into the wood.
Use just enough water so that it will evaporate within a few minutes rather than creating standing water. Check your floors after mopping, and dry off any moisture that may have remained.
Deep Clean With Specially Formulated Cleaning Agent Occasionally
Dirt and grime can accumulate over time, even with a regular cleaning schedule; it's just a natural aspect of using your flooring. On occasion, you should use deep cleaning products and methods on your engineered hardwood floors.
Be sure the cleaning solution you apply is especially for engineered hardwood flooring. Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners because they may damage the finish on your floors. Use a rag, mop, or sponge to apply your cleaning solution.
Similar to regular mopping, it's crucial to keep your mop or cloth damp but not wet. After using your cleaning solution, clean your floors with water, then dry them with a clean, dry cloth to remove any remaining moisture.
Be Aware Of Scratches
Aside from a regular cleaning schedule, you should protect your flooring against dents and scratches. Although it's difficult to have a hardwood floor that is completely scratch-proof, there are a few tips and techniques you can use to minimise damage. There are a variety of ways to conceal scratches on your hardwood floors, reducing their impact and the likelihood of additional problems.
To get rid of the visible white lines left over from scratches, use a scratch concealer. Furthermore, sealing the area will stop future scratching and prevent moisture from seeping into the wood.
Things To Keep Your Engineered Wood Flooring From
Knowing what to avoid is important to caring for and maintaining engineered hardwood floors. As previously stated, it is essential to steer clear of cleaning products containing harsh chemicals as well as abrasive cleaning tools.
Below are the things to avoid and recommend for your engineered hardwood flooring.
Things To Avoid On Engineered Wood Flooring | Recommended Items For Engineered Wood Flooring |
Ammonia-based cleaner | Microfiber cloth |
Wax-based cleaners | Damp mop |
Oil soaps | Manufacturer recommended cleaner |
Steel wool brush | Soft broom |
Scouring pad | Lightweight vacuum |
Floor steamers | Vacuum floor-brush attachment |
Maintaining Your Flooring In An Active Home
As a result of the following activities in your home, your flooring may experience significant wear and tear:
Running feet
Pet claws
Heavy foot traffic
Active families can take many forms, and each poses unique difficulties for homeowners with hardwood floors. However, these challenges are perfectly normal because they are a part of everyday life. Therefore, by being aware of these risks to your flooring, you can create a proactive cleaning schedule that reduces harm to your house.
So, here are some tips to protect your engineered hardwood flooring in an active home.
Set Rules and Take Preventative Measures
Even though a maintenance schedule is vital, taking a few important preventative steps is the best approach to start caring for your floors. You won't experience nearly as many problems in the long run if you're proactive about preserving your hardwood flooring.
Simple measures such as removing your shoes at the door will help you avoid bringing in dirt and other debris that will grind into the finish of your floor and cause harm.
To keep the floor clean and for the benefit of you and your visitors, place a doormat at the doors to your home. Add carpet runners to high-traffic areas like stairways and corridors to provide protection.
Additionally, to protect your wood flooring, place area rugs underneath large furniture like couches or coffee tables. In relation to furniture, felt pads under furniture feet are a fantastic technique to avoid scratches when moving or adjusting items in the space.
Stock up on the necessary supplies
Having all the necessary cleaning tools on hand is crucial to maintaining engineered wood floors in an active home. The last thing you want to happen is to start cleaning your wood floors only to realise you don't have the necessary supplies at home. By keeping a broom and dustpan on hand, maintenance will be easy.
Last but not least, invest in gentle cleaners that are effective for wood flooring. To protect the finish of your floor, avoid using strong chemicals. Look for suggestions from your wood flooring manufacturer if you don't know where to start.
Keep an eye out for spills
The primary risks to your wood floors are spills and water damage, regardless of the type of home or lifestyle you lead. The boards' expansion, buckling, and cracking can be brought on by standing water seeping into the wood.
Keep a towel nearby to wipe up any spills and keep your flooring dry quickly. If you have engineered hardwood in a spill-prone space, such as the kitchen or bathroom, strategically lay waterproof mats to keep problem spots dry.
Top Brand
FOGLIE D'ORO: Foglie d'Oro has complete control over the supply chain, which contributes to the great quality of its floors. Starting at the source, the finest raw materials are chosen in certified forests that the company owns and sustainably manages. This selection process continues through to the delivery of the finished product.
The elegant and varied selection of planks, chevrons, herringbone, and exquisite inlay-ed panels are handcrafted with ongoing research and development for newer designs and finishes. Each piece of wood is expertly processed by the hands of skilled artisans who can flawlessly interpret the design team's imaginative illustrations.
Interested to install bespoke wood flooring in your home?
Consider engaging Lux & Beyond for finely crafted, fully customisable interior finishing and inspirational lighting. With more than 20 years in the interior industry and vast experience and understanding of the local market, the brands we curate are carefully selected to fit the local market, highly reputable, and well-established with good quality.
The suitability and sustainability of the materials and products are also taken into account based on the condition and humidity of the local environment. Find out more by visiting https://www.luxandbeyond.sg/contact-us.