May 7, 2013 by | | There have been 0 comments If you’ve got hardwood floors, you know how beautiful they look when they’re clean and shiny--and how disappointing it is when they get dull and dirty. Here are a few tips that AltruFir has picked up on how to keep wood floors looking fantastic day and in day out. Here’s something to keep in mind: unless you’re living in a log cabin, you’re not actually cleaning the surface of the wood flooring itself. You’re cleaning the surface of whatever coating or finish was applied on top of the floor. The product you pick to clean your hardwood floors depends on what kind of finish you have. Hardwood Floors Magazine says the best way to clean your hardwood floors is to ask a professional: talk to the people who installed or refinished your floor what they recommend, and then stick to their recommendation. Say you inherited your floors. Not sure what’s underfoot? Most modern floors have a polyurethane finish, so read your product labels and find a cleaner that’s meant for poly finishes.

Some older floors have a wax finish. Read labels to find cleaners meant for these types as well. Not sure how to tell the difference? Try a spot test in a hidden area, like the inside of a closet. sony laptop fan always onDrip a droplet of water onto the floor and let it sit for a few minutes. best stick vacuum cleaners ukIf it beads up, then it’s probably polyurethane. best vacuum cleaners uprightIf the finish turns white and then gradually fades, then it’s a wax finish.best way to clean unfinished wood furniture Once you know which type of finish your hardwood floors have, you could test product after product, carefully noting how each performs. best sofa upholstery cleaning products

Or, you could turn to sources that do that kind of testing so you don’t have to. The Good Housekeeping Institute, which has been testing home care products since 1900, recommends Bona brand products, such the Bona Ultimate Hardwood Floor Care System. what's the best way to clean microsuede couchesConsumer Reports also recommends Bona for how to clean your wood floors. Some folks swear by the old-fashioned method of a vinegar-and-water mixture. While this method is cheap and chemical-free, experts such as the writers from the National Wood Flooring Association’s Hardwood Floors Magazine warn that vinegar is an acid, and if you use too much, you can damage the finish. Another product to avoid: steam mops. These mops that spray steam into your flooring can actually damage your floors. Water is the enemy of wood flooring, so you want to avoid anything that sprays excessive water onto the floor and avoid mopping with so much liquid that you leave puddles behind.

Clean your floors with a damp mop, and talk to a wood flooring professional for professional advice. This post was posted in Care & Maintenance and was tagged with Douglas-fir, Douglas fir flooring, douglas fir floors, flooring stains, stains, maintaining wood floors, maintaining fir floors, pet stains, removing pet stains, hardwood pet stains, wood flooring, hardwood flooring, hardwood floors, wood floorsPre-order my latest book Simply Clean and get ready to find success in your homekeeping!Bona® Clean & Refresh Hardwood Floor Cleaner Bona Clean & Refresh Hardwood Floor Cleaner revitalizes your floors in one easy step. The unique 2-in-1 formula cleans and shines your hardwood floors instantly while the self dissolving action prevents any long-term build up. For clean floors you can see and feel everyday. Bona® Disposable Dusting Cloths Bona Disposable Dusting Cloths provide a quick fix clean, featuring a 3D design that utilizes thousands of fluffy fibers to effectively lock away dust, dirt and pet hair.

Cleans 1.8X faster than the leading sweeping cloths due to a larger surface area. Bona® Hardwood Floor Wet Cleaning Pads For a quick fix clean, Bona Hardwood Floor Wet Cleaning Pads feature a multi-layered design infused with Bona's effective cleaning formula. The pads utlize locking strips for convenient attachment and removal for superior quick and easy cleaning. Bona PowerPlus®Hardwood Floor Deep Cleaner Our most powerful cleaner yet! Bona PowerPlus Hardwood Floor Deep Cleaner has an oxygenated formula that loosens and removes heavy dirt build-up, providing a deep clean for your hardwood floors without the extra effort. For optimal results, use with the Bona PowerPlus Microfiber Deep Clean Pad. Bona Hardwood Floor Mop® Flooring contractors will tell you when looking for the best to care for hardwood floors use Bona. The Bona Hardwood Floor Mop is a premium spray mop that combines the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner in a convenient cartridge along with the Bona Microfiber Cleaning Pad. 

The sturdy handle and grip along with a trigger that releases a fine mist makes it quick and easy to clean your hardwood floors.We’ve all heard about these kinds of floors but let’s be honest, if you’re not a contractor, a decorator or builder you’re likely unsure about the real differences. So, what is the difference between a laminate, hardwood and an engineered hardwood floor? The answer: 3 simple parts! Laminate is durable, cost-effective and comes in a variety of colours, textures and sizes.The core of product is typically made of High Density Fiber (HDF) as opposed to actual slabs of wood. The top layer is a photographic layer which is designed to mimic the look you’re going for i.e. hardwood, bamboo, knotted wood, etc.  Laminate planks are typically 3/8” thick and are installed using a tongue and groove locking system, meaning you can install or uninstall with ease. It’s the most durable and easiest to clean (read: it can handle the most abuse).

When you walk on it, you hear a shallow tap. Hardwood floors are made from solid, natural wood and depending on the kind of floor you want, you can purchase a variety of wood species. The entire plank is made from wood, it is the only material used in the manufacturing of hardwood floors.  Modern hardwood is typically made with a tongue and groove system for easy installation . Hardwood floor is easy to sand and refinish, and requires a healthy amount of maintenance to keep them looking great.  They are easier to damage than the two other floor types discussed here though, so buyer beware.  Not only do they dent easier (i.e. if you walk with stilettos or drop a heavy object on the floor you’ll see dents), they cannot be left  wet or else they’ll become damaged (the boards will swell and expand). Hardwood flooring is almost always more expensive but no one can argue how gorgeous it looks or feels when you walk on it. The best way to describe engineered hardwood flooring is to think of it like a hybrid car;

it’s a little bit of  laminate and a little bit of hardwood. It’s core is usually plywood or high-density fibreboard (HDF) and the  top layer is composed of a of hardwood veneer which is glued atop the core to mimic nearly any species of hardwood.  Engineered hardwood has the natural characteristics of the selected wood species as opposed to a photographic layer (which is what you get with laminate).  The reason people tend to choose engineered hardwood over natural hardwood is garner greater moisture and heat resistance because of the core material. Despite the differences, all of these floor types can be cared for the exact same way. Use a  simple solution composed of a ‘pinky nail’ sized drop of dish liquid added to a bucket of hot water.  Sometimes, I’ll add a capful of plain white vinegar to the mix too, it helps cut dirt.  I recommend a microfibre twist mop which is well wrung out to mop the floors.  You can also use a steam mop or a flat head mop.