In a recent article I wrote about the impending holidays and those who will be wanting to revamp and refurbish their holiday houses for the summer. For those of you who may be owners of one of those beautiful Cape Dutch style homes – or even a modern home for that matter, with a genuine hardwood floor, you may like to get this ABC of cleaning and preserving Hardwood flooring.
A – Always remove your shoes
In many countries it is absolutely standard practice to remove your shoes before stepping into the home. It certainly is good practice if you have hardwood flooring, as the abrasive particles of that beach sand (or any dirt for that matter) can ruin the surface of a good floor.
I think of hardwood flooring as the Rolls Royce of flooring, or a fine wine. It is worth it to ask guests to simply remove their shoes and feel the natural springy beauty of the wood beneath their feet. This is the best way to prevent scuffs and scratches before they occur…
B – Blow and buff away scratches
…or if the damage has been done and you already have scratches on the floor, a great way to hide them is to simply choose a crayon of the same colour as the floor and colour in the scratch. Then get a hairdryer and blow dry the area where the crayon was applied to heat it, whilst buffing the floor with a soft cloth.
C – Creative cleaning suggestions
Wooden floors can and should be washed, but before doing so, remove dirt and grime with a vacuum or dust mop that has been treated with a dusting agent (or use a microfiber duster). It’s bad idea to rub dirt into the floor, so the duster can get rid of dust and pet hair.
Now mop with a solution of 1 cup of vinegar mixed with about 2 litres of water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on to a microfiber mop and mop in the direction of the floor boards and let it air dry – or if you’re in a hurry you can use a soft clean towel.
Get a great new floor!
If you’re in the Western Cape and your solid hardwood floor has really passed its prime, you might like to replace it. Even if you choose the more modern alternatives of laminate, vinyl, or engineered flooring, we at Libra flooring are experts at advising on, supplying and installing all the finest floors with our famous ‘balance of Quality and price.’
If you found this ABC of cleaning and preserving Hardwood flooring useful, check our website for the full range of products we have to offer and contact us to begin to experience the personal service all our loyal customers have come to know.
For a more detailed explanation please refer to www.topcarpetsandfloors.co.za Maintenance.