Show Your Floors Some Love, And They Will Love You Back

Do your floors need a little love this Valentine’s Day? Here are some tricks to give your floors the attention they deserve.

Hard floors, such as wood, tile, vinyl and linoleum, have many benefits. They are much better for allergies, last longer and make your home warm and inviting. But they can easily show dirt, scratches and, if not cleaned properly, unsightly stains and warping. Finding products that will remove dirt, wipe away grime and leave your floors feeling sparkly clean is essential in getting the most out of your floors.

Here are some ways to show your floors some love so they give you love in return:

Stay away from harmful cleaners

Vinegar mixed with water is a great cleaning agent for many surfaces, but its acidity can damage the finish on hardwood floors if used in excess. Even mopping can warp your hardwood flooring because of the excess amount of water. It is better to use a spray bottle instead of a mop and bucket on hardwood floors. Vinegar does work well on linoleum and tile. One cup of vinegar to one gallon of warm water should do the trick.

Polish that wood

Hardwood floors enjoy a polishing occasionally, and it’s not a difficult task. Simply spray polish onto a mop and mop the floors as if you were cleaning them.

 Clean up messes

It’s easy to forget a small spill, but doing so can warp your floors. Always clean up any spills right away. Even though the flooring might be protected with a coat of polyurethane, darker substances like wine can stain and water can cause the boards to swell and shrink, changing their shape.

Protect your floors

Furniture can scratch or scuff your floors, damaging its top layer. Pads that stick on your furniture’s feet allow you to move around your belongings without causing damage to the flooring.

If you have wood floors, chances are they are protected by a coat of polyurethane. Because the plastic in polyurethane eventually erodes over time, recoat your flooring with a new layer to continue protecting the wood. Before recoating, lightly sand the floors to maximize the polyurethane’s ability to adhere to the flooring.