No matter how hard you try, dirty floors are inevitable. You can make everyone leave their outside shoes at the door, but your floor can still accumulate dirt and dust, pet hair, and grime from inside activities.
Engineered wood flooring requires special care. It’s not hard to take care of, but it’s not like traditional flooring. You’ll get years of durability when you know how to care for and maintain your flooring. Some experts say your engineered wood floor will last 30 years or more with proper care. Here are our best tips for caring for your engineered wood flooring.
Get Floor Mats
Put floor mats at all doorways to trap outside dirt and grime. And don’t use mats with latex or rubber backing, as this can damage your floors. If you have hallways that get a lot of foot traffic, put down a floor runner to trap dirt and grime.
Also, you can have the family wear house slippers inside instead of their shoes, and use super absorbent mats when it’s rainy outside to avoid tracking water through the house. Another big one is to try to avoid walking in high heels or cleats on the flooring.
Clean Up Spills Quickly
Your floor is going to get dirty, but if you stay on top of cleaning up, you can often avoid stains and grime. Clean up spills quickly, and use a microfiber cloth or a damp mop to pick up the liquid. And make sure to choose a gentle cleanser if you need to clean up something that’s extra sticky!
Sweep Daily
Try and incorporate it into your routine to sweep your floors every day. It shouldn’t take very long to sweep up the dust and other debris that gets on your floors in high-traffic areas. And if you take a few minutes before bedtime to clean up, you’ll wake up to a cleaner home, which will boost your mood and get your day off to a good start!
Areas with lower foot traffic may not need sweeping regularly, maybe only once or twice a week. Also, make sure to avoid using a vacuum with a rotating bristle bar or beater bar, unless it has a bare floor setting.
Mop Floors Regularly
Using a damp mop to clean your floors about once a week could be a good idea, but this can also depend on how much foot traffic certain areas get. Choose a mop that is soft and can be wrung out completely, and use a manufacturer-recommended cleaner, or a very gentle cleaner approved for engineered wood flooring.
Although your engineered wood flooring is more water-resistant than traditional wood flooring, it still doesn’t like to have water sitting on the floor. Employing the tips above is better for the floor and will help restore that sheen! Dry the floor with a soft cloth if the excess water doesn’t evaporate quickly, and don’t let anyone walk on the floor until it is dry.
Remove Stains
Unfortunately, floors can stain from spills like red wine. But that’s life; accidents happen. The kids might write on the floors and your pets might… well, you know. First, try a home remedy using hydrogen peroxide and a cotton cloth. Soak the cloth in the peroxide and place it on the spot for a few minutes to see if the spot is coming up.
When the time is up, remove the cloth and wipe up any liquid. If it isn’t completely gone, try again. This can take more time if the stain is a particularly stubborn one. If the stain doesn’t come up with this remedy, don’t use harsh chemicals or cleansers. Hard scrubbing can remove the finish and damage the underlying material. In some cases, the planks that are stained may need to be replaced. Ask your flooring experts at SVB for help!
Deep Clean Occasionally
Once or twice a year, it can be beneficial to do a deep cleaning on your floor. Choose a product that is recommended for engineered wood floors to ensure it isn’t too harsh on the floors. Apply the cleaning product with a damp rag or mop, and rinse the floor with clean water. Dry the floor with a soft cloth to avoid excess moisture.
We at SVB couldn’t recommend more that you try the products from our friends over at BONA. BONA believes in making affordable cleaning products that are high-quality and sustainable. So when it next comes time to deeply clean your engineered wood floors, clean with a clean conscience with BONA.
Take Care of Scratches
A scratch concealer can cover up minor dents and scratches to make any damage much less noticeable. When you do move furniture, use a dolly or pick up the furniture completely instead of sliding the furniture across the floor. Putting felt pads on the bottom of the furniture to avoid scratches from regular use is also a great trick!
Don’t Make These Mistakes When Cleaning Engineered Wood Flooring
- Avoid harsh chemicals. Don’t use wax-based cleaners or oil soaps on your engineered wood floor.
- Don’t use anything but soft cloths to clean your floors. Scouring pads or steel wool are off limits. Choose a soft-bristle broom, too.
- Don’t use too much moisture or steam mops on your floors.
- And definitely don’t let water sit on the floor.
Can You Refinish Your Engineered Hardwood Floors?
If your engineered hardwood floors have at least one-eighth of an inch of veneer, they can be refinished instead of replaced. The process to refinish the floors is similar to refinishing hardwood floors. The floors will need to be sanded, buffed, cleaned, stained, and sealed. Most engineered wood flooring cannot be refinished more than once, but it does extend the life of your floor.
Get Expert Flooring Advice
SVB Wood Floors has more than 15 years of experience in the Kansas City area of providing top quality floors in homes across the city. Our inventory includes many different options that will fit your budget and needs in your home.
We can install, restore, and refinish the wood floors in your home. Talk to us about your flooring ideas and let us give you an estimate to start the process. Our team will get to work once you approve it. We work hard to reduce your stress while your home is being renovated. Contact us to learn more.
