Purchasing an oak floorboard is only the first step of making your home stylish – you need to maintain it properly if you want to keep that classic look for many years. Here are a few steps to follow to ensure that your wooden floor retains its appearance and keeps your home looking elegant.
Hard Wearing Finish
The most crucial step is selecting a hard-wearing finish for your oak flooring. You need to make sure that your choice is resilient to wearing out and matches your room’s décor, regardless of whether it is pre-finished or unfinished.
The market has several options depending on the type of finish you want for your home. An oiled finish looks natural and more comfortable to clean than other options.
Regular Cleaning
Cleaning is vital if you want to keep your floor in prime condition for extensive periods. It would be best if you swept it at least once daily to prevent the accumulation of dirt and grime. Also, regular vacuuming can help in removing sticky stains. That said, you need to scrub the floor gently to prevent damage resulting from the friction caused by the dirt.
Besides regular cleaning, it is essential to do as recommended by the finish you have on your floorboard. Many finishes have their corresponding soap products that ensure you get the best possible results. Soap strengthens oak flooring every time you use it and also extends the life of the finish.
Application of Soap
Before you apply soap, you need to ensure that the surface of your oak floor is free from dust and dirt. You can clear it by either sweeping or vacuuming.
After mixing the soap with water as per the manufacturer’s recommendations, you can clean the floor using a sponge mop or a floor cloth. Make sure that you rinse the mop dry to ensure that the floor does not get overly wet. Once you get rid of all the water, leave the room to dry for 15 minutes.
Maintenance
If your oak flooring experiences heavy traffic, it can start showing signs of wear and tear. The best solution to this problem is by applying maintenance oils. These products are specially designed to regenerate oiled wood floors, and they work by penetrating the floorboards and providing lasting protection.
Similar to soaps, each finish has its designated maintenance oil. When applying the oil, clear the floor of dirt and dust. The floor should also be free of any moisture.
The oil should only be applied if the temperature is above 12oC, as anything lower would freeze the oil. You can use either a cloth or a brush for the application.
Make sure that you spread the oil evenly across the floor in the grain direction of the wood. The layer should be thin so that it dries quickly after completion. After several rounds of maintenance, you might need to recoat the entire floor. At this point, you will need to call in a professional.
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