Cleaning Tips at DC Flooring

Everyday General Maintenance

It is important to protect the finish of your flooring in order for it to stay beautiful longer and require less maintenance over the years. It is vital that you keep the floor area free from dirt, dust and debris.

General dusting takes little time and a soft, flat dust mop is the best type to use. This will lift off the surface dust that happens to land on the floor quite easily. If you want to do a damp wipe then you can attach a dampened rag under the mop but never use excess water. Too much water will only penetrate through the flooring over time. It is much better to wipe over with a damp cloth than using a mop that is dripping wet.

Water damages the wood floor over time. Use a solution of water and vinegar, actually two capfuls vinegar to one gallon of water is the proper measurement.

If you happen to have wood flooring throughout your home, and you prefer to vacuum rather than sweep, it is important that you use a vacuum that is made specifically for wood floors. These generally have a long wand type attachment as well as several soft bristled attachments. When picking up particles with a dust pan, make sure it is the rubberized type as this will eliminate the dustpan from scratching your floors.

Eliminate Stains

Eliminate stains from occurring by wiping them up as soon as they happen. This is done with a dampened cloth. If it happens to be a heavy stain from a food product such as cooking oil, then it is important to use a small amount of dish soap mixed with water on the area. This method quickly wiping up stains is only recommended for fast fixes and should not be used over an entire floor.

Recoat and Protect

Recoat the floor over time as eventually the finish will wear down. This is normally caused by the traffic over the floor and cannot be avoided. However, regular maintenance of the floor will help in keeping the finish looking great.

There are several factors that determines what type of refinishing to use on the floor. It is imperative that you get expert advice before you go ahead and try to refinish the floor yourself.

Remember that having your floor finished by the professionals at will save you both time and money. We also offer consultation on long-term maintenance and refinishing to keep your floor looking new and beautiful. Make sure that you have chair protectors on the bottom of the furniture.

In fact, all furniture that sits upon a floor or carpet should have these felt guides underneath them. Utilizing these felt pads or guides and cleaning the grit that may become imbedded on them will help to keep your floor protected and looking like new. These can be found at most hardware stores.

Area rugs should be placed in hallways as well as in front of sinks. These are generally high traffic areas and can attract a lot of dirt.

Make sure that the heels of your shoes are well cushioned and protected. Nail heads from shoes can wreck havoc on a wood floor. In fact, if you have a wood floor, it is important that you use soft soled shoes while in the house.

Do Not:

• Use very little water on your floor
• Never use wax on your floor
• Use water and baking soda to clean your floors
• Use natural dust mops, not ones that have been chemically treated
• Do not use treated dust mops. They can dull the flooring and adversely affect the finish.
• Use organic, environmentally friendly floor cleaning products. Commercially-made dust cleaners leave a cloudy finish.
• Do not drag furniture across any wood floor.
• Lift up the vacuum do not drag it
• Use a soft rubber dustpan
• Keep pets nails trimmed
• Wear soft soled shoes

Generations of Use and Beauty   

Consistently following these simple cleaning tips will help ensure a life-span of your wood floor. The floor will have an even richer and deeper luster with proper care.