Oak flooring is not only lovely too look at, but it is also good for your health, unlike carpet. It is also fairly simple to clean. But oak flooring has two primary enemies: dirt and moisture. Water can destroy finishes and warp floors, while dirt can scratch, dull and dent oak flooring. In order to keep the beautiful state of your oak flooring, you must clean and protect it from sand, dirt, moisture and grit. Here is how to maintain and cleaning oak flooring:

The things you need will be furniture pads, a floor cleaner, rags, a mop, doormats, and a vacuum cleaner. The first step will be to place the mats in front of your doors, inside and as well as outside, to prevent dirt from being brought in and on your oak flooring. You could also utilize throw rugs for those high-traffic areas in your home. Vacuum or dust-mop, and sweep daily, but only damp-mop when absolutely necessary. When you damp-mop, ensure that it is only somewhat damp because you need it to dry fast. Select a dust mop that has a 1-1.5ft long cotton head or you could also find a vacuum, which has bare-floor attachments. As much as possible, do not use oil soap on your flooring. Oil soap builds up, making it difficult to recoat.

As much as possible, do not damp-mop using water. When you mop, utilize the cleaning products that the manufacturer recommended or the warranty of your floor might be void. Soak the head of the sponge mop in the cleaner only until it is somewhat damp. Do not pour the cleaner directly to your oak flooring. It is wise to utilize a floor cleaner that is pH-neutral because this type of cleaner is not too strong. This type of cleaner is available at most cleaning-supply houses. The best type of cleaner to use is a cleaner that is made especially for wooden floors.

Place soft pads on your furniture, such as the chair and table legs that come in contact with the flooring. This prevents your flooring from gaining marks and scratches. When you accidentally spill something on your floor, make sure you wipe it up immediately. This is to keep your floor from warping and as well as staining. Even if the sealant can protect the surface of your oak flooring, oak is naturally nonresistant to water damage. If you leave liquid on your floor for too long, the surface could possibly discolor, as well as swell.

If your floor merits scratches, fill them up with some matching finish. If the scratches reach down deep into the wood, utilize more than a single coat. Once the surface is warped, gouged or split, and the finish is worn, refinish your flooring. You could either do it yourself, or you could opt to hire professional help. If you decide to refinish your floor, select a time when there is low humidity. This is because you will have to leave your windows and doors open for ventilation of the fumes and sanding dust. If the humidity is high, the length of time your floor will take to dry will be longer.

Author Bio: Richard Dinae is an architect, providing information and directories about home improvement, parabond hardwood floor polish, hardwood floor stapler and oak hardwood floor manufactures

Category: Home Management
Keywords: home improvement, oak hardwood floor, hardwood floor, hardwood, floor