Products to Make Hardwood Floors Shine
Natural hardwood floors offer an elegance and beauty to any room. These traditional floors are easy to care for over time, and endure over several lifetimes with proper care. Making your hardwood floors shine is a relatively simple process, although it may require some elbow grease. Does this Spark an idea?
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Prevention of Damage
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Precautionary measures are the best way to keep your hardwood floors shining bright. Dirt and grit can scratch the finish of any hard wood. Any dirt or sand residue has the same effect on hardwood as a piece of sandpaper on the bottom of your shoes might. Standing water will warp your wood. You must wipe up any spills immediately. Take care when moving items over your hardwood floor. Lift furniture; do not drag it. Use a brush attachment on any vacuums you may use to pick up crumbs. Direct sunlight will fade and damage your hardwood floors. Use blinds or curtains to protect your floors from direct ultraviolet rays.
Considerations
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Before polishing your floors, examine the existing damage. Test spots that look dull by pouring one tablespoon of water on the floor. If the water soaks in, you will need to completely redo the finish; the sealing layer has worn or been scrubbed off your floor. If the water beads, your floor is properly sealed.
Determine what type of finish your wood floors have. Many floors installed in new housing have polyurethane-based finishes. Check with your homebuilder or test a corner with paint thinner to determine the finish. If the paint thinner causes bubbles, you have a polyurethane or water-based urethane finish.
Some older homes have wood floors that have been sealed using acrylic, oil or wax. If the finish has a satin or matte look (it does not reflect light), you have one of these finishes. Ammonia will strip the wax if used on the floor.
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Possible Cleaners
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Bona makes a pH neutral cleaner that is recommended by many hardwood floor installers. It offers a shine that lasts after a damp mop. OnlineFloorStore.com offers a variety of products, including Squeaky commercial hardwood floor cleaner in concentrate.
If you prefer to use a homemade cleaner, you might try one-quarter cup of borax added to a gallon of water with a tiny amount of baby shampoo or liquid soap. Be cautious and test this cleaner on an inconspicuous area before using it on your entire wood floor.
Fixing Stain Damage
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If you have had a spill or a stain, there are options to repair the damage.
Water stains and cigarette burns can be buffed out with No. 2 steel wool or sanded with fine-grain sandpaper. Redo the finish with either polyurethane or wax.
Marks from high heels or furniture casters can be buffed with steel wool and floor cleaner. Wipe dry.
Ink stains, paint stains and wine stains can be buffed with No. 2 steel wool and floor cleaner. You may need to use fine-grain sandpaper and reapply wax or polyurethane. Truly stained wood may need to be replaced.
Ice will remove chewing gum or candle wax. Freeze the spot, then carefully pour floor cleaner around the spot and loosen the gum or candle wax.
Always start cleaning at the edge of a stain and work toward the center of the stain.
Warnings
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Do not use vinegar on wood floors. It does not add to the shine and may damage the floors.
Ammonia will strip the wax sealant of floors. Only use ammonia if you are planning to strip an existing wax coating and replace it immediately.
Oil soaps will add residue over time; they should not be used on true hardwood floors.
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