How to Refinish & Clean Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors may get scratched or damaged, and the color can dull over time. You can refinish your hardwood floors to repair the scratches and renew the color. Refinishing hardwood floors requires using a sander. These are available at rental centers. Properly preparing your floor for sanding and staining is a large part of this refinishing project. Once finished, proper cleaning techniques and products will aid in maintaining your floors. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vacuum
- Hammer
- Tape
- Plastic sheeting
- Belt or drum sander
- Mask
- Sandpaper
- Clean cloths
- Paint brush
- Stain
- Polyurethane
- Dish soap
- Mop
Instructions
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Remove all furnishings from the room. Remove the baseboards and vacuum the floor. Look for nails that may have loosened and are popping up. Sink these back into place using a hammer. Tape plastic sheeting over vents, windows and doorways.
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Rent a belt or drum sander from the rental center. Wear a mask, durable clothing and footwear for sanding. Sanders are large, heavy machines that vibrate when in use. You may wish to wear gloves, but remove the gloves when applying or removing the sandpaper on the sander.
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Start with 50-grit sandpaper to remove scratches as well as the current coat of stain. The sandpaper fits onto the head of the sander. Move the sander across the floor, following the length of the room. Overlap the sanded strips as you go to ensure full coverage.
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Change to a 60-grit sandpaper once the old coating of stain has been removed. Pass over the floor again. This will level the hardwood. Change to a 120-grit sandpaper and go over the floor again to prepare the hardwood for the new stain.
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Clean the room thoroughly. Vacuum the ceiling, walls, windows and floor. Wipe down the entire room with damp cloths and vacuum again. Sweep the floor and vacuum it a third time. The floor should be dust-free before you apply the new stain.
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Use a brush and clean cloth to apply the new stain. Shake the can of stain before opening. Dip the tip of the brush into the stain and wipe the excess on the inner lip of the can. Use long, even strokes in the same direction as the wood grain.
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Use the cloth to smooth and blend the stain as you move along the floor. Allow the stain to dry for a minimum of one hour. Apply a second coat and allow it to dry. Apply a coat of polyurethane to the floor to seal. Use the same technique you used to apply the stain.
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Reinstall the furnishings and baseboards after the floor is dry. To maintain your refinished hardwood floors, use a soft cloth, such as terry cloth or microfiber, to dust the floor.
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Use a mild dish soap and water for occasional spot cleaning. Mix a few drops of mild dish soap with a gallon of water in a bucket. Use a soft-head mop to apply the soapy mix to the floor, ringing the mop before using it on the floor. Buff the area dry with a clean cloth.
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Tips & Warnings
Sanders are large machines. If you don't feel confident in using one, hire a professional for that part of the job.
Avoid using acidic cleaning products on your floor, as these will damage the finish.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Close-up wooden texture to background image by Ragnarocks from Fotolia.com
