Plank floors made of natural wood are the most ancient and reliable type of flooring, which, unfortunately, today is widely replaced by synthetic materials. After all, caring for linoleum is much easier than cleaning wooden floors, especially if they are unpainted. But wood flooring allows air to pass through well, retains heat, has a beautiful appearance, and has a calming effect on the nervous system. The main thing is to know the ways and means that will help keep your wooden floor clean.
Introduction
Contamination of a wooden floor is a common occurrence, occurring even among owners who observe complete cleanliness. There are several ways to clean a wooden floor, depending on the type of contamination. We will try to solve any possible problem.
Wooden floors are just as susceptible to stains as other types of flooring.
Parquet
Parquet is cared for differently. This flooring requires maintenance; it does not tolerate abrasives and hard brushes, and scratches quickly appear on it. First, the parquet needs to be vacuumed to remove dust and stones from the street. Then you can wash it.
After the parquet is washed, you will need to apply wax or a special mastic-based product. These products not only improve the decorative qualities of the finish, they provide additional protection from damage.
Preparation
To ensure that the washing procedure is not done in vain, you should first wipe off all the dust on the furniture standing on this floor, vacuum it, and then remove the carpet, if any, and shake it thoroughly. Next, the surface itself needs to be vacuumed, but before that, remove large objects from the surface that can scratch the wood. We are talking about nails and screws.
First, you should vacuum your wooden floors.
Rules
When caring for wooden floors, you need to follow simple rules. They will help keep the floor intact, without scratches or scuffs.
How to care for plank floorboards and parquet:
- Do not enter the house with dirty shoes. Place a rug behind the threshold and clean it before entering the hallway.
- Place protective covers on furniture. You can simply nail pieces of rubber to the legs. This way the floors won't be scratched.
- Clean light-colored flooring more often. The dirt is more visible on it.
- The use of abrasive cleaners is not recommended.
- It is not advisable to use metal brushes to remove dirt. Carefully remove the dirt with a spatula or buy a special product in the household chemicals department.
- During repairs, if you will not change the floors, cover them with plastic film. It will prevent dust, paint and plaster from getting onto the expensive coating.
- Wooden coverings do not like moisture. Under its influence, the floorboards swell and the floor becomes deformed.
Caring for a wooden floor is easy. The main thing is to know what you can use to wash parquet, painted and unpainted floorboards. What products should not be used and how often should such cleaning be done.
How to properly clean a painted floor
If there are no serious contaminants on the floor and the washing procedure is “ordinary”, then you should dilute ammonia or vinegar in warm water. At the same time, observe the proportion: for one liter of water, no more than one spoon of ammonia (or vinegar) is required. We do not lift the mop from the surface, but carry out movements like sailors on deck - in a figure eight.
Washing floors is an “ordinary” procedure
When you wash the floor with this solution, you can rub it using linseed oil. This will give the surface shine. For shine, use a solution diluted as follows: 60 ml of table vinegar, a tablespoon of liquid for shining wooden furniture, 2 liters of water.
Wash with store-bought products: 3 formulations
I offer my rating of products from the store:
1. Glorix - a product for floors and delicate surfaces.
Glorix - product for floors and delicate surfaces
The manufacturer promises:
- cleans and disinfects surfaces;
- removes allergens;
- eliminates unpleasant odor;
- suitable for furniture care;
- Gently cleans laminate, cork, parquet, wood, ceramic tiles, vinyl, linoleum.
Price : about 190 ₽
Instructions:
- for 4 liters of water add 50 ml of product - 1 cap;
- wipe the floors with the solution;
- no need to rinse off.
2. Pronto 5-in-1 floor cleaner - suitable for both wood flooring and furniture.
Pronto 5-in-1 floor cleaner
The manufacturer promises:
- cleans any wooden surfaces;
- cares for and protects from adverse external influences;
- does not leave streaks;
- Ideal for wood and laminate floors.
Price : about 310 ₽
Instructions:
- add 2 caps of product to 5 liters of water;
- wipe the floors with the solution;
- no need to rinse off.
3. Emsal Floor Care - concentrate for cleaning and caring for floors.
EmsalFloor Care
The manufacturer promises:
- protects wooden surfaces from moisture and swelling;
- removes light scratches;
- restores color
- leaves no streaks.
Price : about 420 ₽
Instructions:
- add 2 caps of product to 5 liters of water;
- wipe the floors with the solution;
- do not wash off.
How to properly clean an unpainted floor
In order to wash a regular wooden floor without staining, you need to dissolve a little soap or alkali in warm water. It is wiped with this solution and thoroughly rubbed with a hard bristle brush. Warm water with washing powder or baking soda is also perfect. Three tablespoons of soda are required per liter of water. A bare broom or root brush can be used as a wiping tool.
Soapy water is perfect for unpainted floors
If there are serious stains on the surface, then abrasive methods can be used to remove them, which are unacceptable in the case of a painted floor. So, first wipe it with a hard-bristled brush, then make a solution of sand and lime (3 to 1 ratio) and rub the floor with it. Rinse off the solution with warm water. If stains still remain, use white clay or wet sulfur. Apply it to the stains and leave it overnight. In the morning, rinse with warm water.
Grease stains on an unpainted floor are removed with gasoline, then sprinkled with starch and ironed through a cloth. You can also make a solution containing white clay, gray clay and vinegar. Cover the stain with this solution and leave overnight. The next morning, rinse the surface with warm water.
7 Put special pads on furniture legs
Source: aliexpress.com
To protect your parquet from scratches, get soft pads for furniture legs that are attached to the base. With them, you can move any not too massive furniture (chair, coffee table, cabinet, etc.) with peace of mind and not worry that unsightly marks will remain on the wooden surface.
As for such heavyweights as a wardrobe and a sofa, even in this case it is better not to take risks and not do the rearrangement alone. Firstly, it is difficult, and secondly, the linings can move or come off, and this will inevitably lead to damage to the coating.
Removing various contaminants
Now let's look at how to remove various contaminants from the floor surface.
Black stripes
It seems that everyone knows about the ability of shoes with black rubber soles to “draw” on the surface of linoleum, wooden floors, etc. This is the only significant drawback of such shoes leads to black marks, which cannot be washed off using conventional methods. Do not rush to get upset, because such black paint does not penetrate deep into the wood, but remains only on the surface.
If the strip is thin and barely noticeable, then try to wipe it with a dry cloth or the same sock. If you have laminate or parquet (you can also add linoleum here), then take a tennis ball in your hands and wipe off all unnecessary stains. The method works like a charm! Finally, everything that could not be removed by the previous methods can be removed in the last step: pour a little baking soda onto the mop, then wipe the strips with it. You should not press the mop too hard, as you may leave scratches on the floor. After this, rinse the soda off the surface with water and wipe dry.
Dark spots near the front door
Over time, one way or another, a thick layer of dirt accumulates near the front door, manifested in dark spots. You will need to do wet cleaning. By the way, it’s best to immediately forget about a mop with a wet rag, since wooden floors do not like such care. Pronto for wood does its job well. Apply it to the dirty area, take a microfiber cloth and gently wipe away the dirt. After allowing the surface to dry, repeat these steps until the dirt is completely removed. At the end, do not forget to treat the floor with a special protective agent, giving it the much-needed shine.
Pronto does an excellent job of removing stains on wooden floors.
Sticky substances on the surface
At first glance, it is very difficult to remove chewing gum, resin, paint or plasticine from the floor. They themselves, as you understand, will not go anywhere, and solvents will not help you in any way. The first thing to do is put some ice in a bag and put it on the stained area. When chewing gum or any other sticky substance freezes, scraping it off with a spatula is not difficult.
Using cold can get rid of sticky substances on the floor
If we talk about paint drops on a wooden floor, then take a cotton pad, pour a little alcohol on it and press it onto the stain. Next, you will need to pick up the same spatula and clean the surface of the cracked paint. If suddenly it doesn’t help, then use baking soda, as in the case of black stripes from shoes (read above).
Moisture stains
Water may leave streaks (stains). This is due to the presence of various minerals in its composition. Without going into chemistry, we can say that the harder the water, the higher the likelihood that it will leave stains on the floor. You need to dissolve the remaining minerals on the surface, then scrape them off with a spatula. But be careful as you can damage the floor.
Moisture stains
If you have a small child living at home or have pets, then you are not insured against a possible “accident” of the urethra. Urine has the property of discoloring the floor surface. But this, as you understand, is not so bad, because penetrating into the tree, it will “give” you an unpleasant odor. This happens when it hits the surface not for the first time, but is removed untimely.
A small child can cause moisture to get onto the floor
Act immediately if you discover this. Wipe the area of the floor with a paper napkin or towel, then use a rag soaked in a solution of water and detergent. Next, pour some rubbing alcohol onto a piece of cloth and wipe away the remaining stain. Remember that household chemical stores sell special products to remove this type of contaminant. If the stains were found too late, you will have to re-apply a layer of paint material to the surface. If this does not help or for some reason cannot be carried out, then you will have to replace the bars soaked in urine.
Crayon stains
Your child can leave wax crayons on the floor. To prevent this from occurring, it is recommended to buy easily washable crayons for children. Otherwise, if there are already stains from crayons, then dilute the toothpaste in warm water, then use a rag to apply the resulting solution to the stained area. Once there are no traces of chalk left on the floor, you will need to remove the remaining toothpaste. Wipe the surface dry. By the way, if you accidentally stepped on a piece of chalk and crushed it on the surface, then follow the method for removing chewing gum and other sticky stains.
Toothpaste can help get rid of crayon stains
Painted
Proper care of a painted wood floor will not cause it to lose its shine. Do not use abrasives or soda to avoid damaging the paint. How to clean dirt off a wooden floor? It is better to wash with clean water and wood floor cleaners.
If you regularly use dishwashing detergent or baking soda, the paintwork will begin to peel off in layers.
Painted floor surfaces in the house can be washed with the addition of 2 tbsp. l. vinegar per bucket of water. Vinegar is replaced with ammonia or medical alcohol.
Painted floors cannot be washed daily; the paint will wear off. If you need to wash a greasy stain, where it is simply impossible to do without a soap solution, try this method: put ice on it or pour a little cold water.
Fat hardens from the cold, remove it with a napkin, wipe the floor with a damp cloth. Wash with clean water.
Do not use chlorine-based products. They brighten the surface. The flooring will be ruined forever, the only solution is to repaint it.
Proper care
At least a couple of times a month you need to thoroughly vacuum and wipe the surface. In places where there will be a lot of walking, you need to lay paths, large and small carpets. Dirt and sand are very dangerous for wood floors as they can scratch them. Therefore, the brush for the vacuum cleaner should be chosen as soft as possible. As soon as even a drop of food gets on the floor, remove it immediately, even despite the various protective solutions that cover the surface. Remove it with a damp cloth, then wipe with a dry towel.
You should not leave water or other liquids on the floor because, again, even if it is covered with a water-repellent layer, moisture can penetrate the wood in a roundabout way and begin to deteriorate it. Soon there will be distortions between the boards and possibly creaks.
Do not walk on wooden floors in outdoor shoes. When you get home, take off your shoes and put on slippers with soft soles. Make sure that there are no sharp objects scattered across the surface that could leave scratches on it.
Conclusion
You can preserve the brilliant beauty of a valuable tree only by choosing the right care products.
Now, having learned the recommendations and tips, you can easily wash the floor with a brilliant result, and admire the well-groomed wooden floor for a long time. And now I suggest you familiarize yourself with the video in this article - it gives a clear example of how to wash such flooring. We can discuss your questions and ideas in the comments - write!
