If you’re familiar with the process of sanding down old, worn-out wood floors, you know that it’s a huge undertaking. It’s time-consuming, messy, and the cost can add up quickly.
Likewise, some hardwood floors don’t require a complete sand and finish at all to refresh and rejuvenate them.
The first thing you need to find out is what kind of finish you have on your floor -
Here are a few tips on how to refinish hardwood floors without sanding. Remember to perform your due diligence by finding the right professional to assist you, and knowing what kind of finish is on your floor to begin with.
Screening and recoating involves scuffing the finish of your hardwoods with a floor buffer, and then applying a new top coat.
This process does not require sanding down to raw wood and removing part of the floors wear layer.
This method involves a sanding screen, but it’s not the messy and time-consuming process that comes with traditional sanding.
By abrading the existing top coat of finish, you allow for the new coat of finish to adhere.
This new coat of finish helps to maintain the long lasting-beauty of your newly refinished wood floors.
If you want to avoid roughing up and screening your floors altogether, you can try the chemical abrasion route. For this method, you’ll use a chemical solution to prep your floors. This gives the new finish the opportunity to bond to the existing wood finish.
However, it’s not perfect. Refinishing floors via chemical abrasion is not an easy job.
Rejuvenating a floor with a Wax / or Oil Finish can be much easier than the above. This process can also be done without moving all of your furniture out of the house. A quality deep cleaning solution is required to break down the old finish / grime and build up over time. Depending on how long one has waited to do this process, it can sometimes require doing this process two or three times, depending on how dirty the floor is. Once cleaned, the new application of Wood Polish can be applied. Note also, that color repair and adjustments can be made as well before this final coat. It should be noted, that floors with a Wax / Oil Finish should be maintained regularly. At a minimum high traffic areas should be done 1x per year.
If you’re looking to refinish hardwood floors without sanding, these are the best ways to go about it, depending on the type of finish you have.
When trying to choose a refinishing option, take into account the current condition of your floors, your budget, and the time required to have the job doone correctly. Once you’ve determined these factors, you’ll be in a much better position to decide the best method to refresh your hardwood floors without sanding.
]]>While it might seem like a grand undertaking, it’s not as overwhelming as it sounds. Establishing a maintenance routine early on will help reduce buildup and keep your hardwoods looking like new.
If you don’t know how to protect hardwood floors, it will eventually require repairs, and those can be expensive. Moisture, dirt, grit, and salt can all come together in your most high-traffic areas and wreak havoc on your beautiful floors. Here are some tips to help keep your hardwood floors looking like new.
This is an easy one, but it frequently gets overlooked by homeowners. Maintaining a regular cleaning schedule in your home should definitely include your hardwood floors. Especially if shoes are worn in the house. Sweeping or vacuuming once a day will do wonders for reducing everyday wear and tear, while working to stop grime buildup in its tracks.
With this being said, daily sweeping won’t be enough. It helps to curb grime buildup, but despite your best efforts there will always be dirt, grime, that manages to sneak its way onto your floors. A VERY thorough cleaning is recommended every couple of months in order to keep your floors looking their best. A professional Deep Clean should be done every 1 year for wax oil finishes, and every 2-3 years for Urethane Floors.
The products you use on your hardwoods are just as important as the frequency with which you use them. Do your research when it comes to the right cleaning solutions for your floors.
Likewise, be wary of trendy or popular methods when it comes to cleaning. These aren’t necessarily friends to your hardwood and can spell disaster for your floors. Diluted vinegar, Murphy’s Oil, steam cleaning, and soap-based cleansers are all not meant for hardwood and will end up costing you.
Instead, get products specifically formulated for the type of finish that is applied on hardwood floors. If you do your due diligence, your products should work to extend the life of your hardwood, not damage it.
More than anything else, improper maintenance, or waiting too long to have it maintained can do a lot of damage to your hardwood floors. Knowing how to protect hardwood floors and keeping up with regular maintenance will help you to maintain and extend the life of your beautiful hardwoods.
]]>If you have pets and kids traipsing across your floors day in and day out, you know that your hardwood floors can take a beating. Stay ahead of the chaos and extend the life of your floors by committing to a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule.
]]>Taking the time to sweep or vacuum your hardwoods once a day helps your floors stay in their best shape. Here are some of the most useful tricks for how to clean wood floors and keep them sparkling.
A regular once-over with a broom or vacuum will do wonders for keeping your floors clean and extending the life of your hardwood. Dirt, grime, dust, and salt will build up on your hardwoods over the long term and cause damage if you’re not consistently removing it.
Even if you’re regularly sweeping, vacuuming or mopping your floors, that won’t be enough to stop grime buildup from doing damage to your hardwoods. Deep cleaning high traffic areas two or three times a year will work wonders when it comes to keeping your hardwoods lustrous and long-lasting.
Invest in cleaning products designed and formulated specifically for wood floors with a wax/oil finish.
Due diligence is important when deciding what products to use on your floors. One of the most crucial factors to remember when learning how to clean wood floors is doing the proper research on the products you’re using.
With a million products on the market, it’s easy to get caught up in gimmicks and smart marketing. Instead of rushing into product purchasing, or buying the first thing you see online or at the hardware store, take your time. When you’re learning how to clean wood floors, you won’t regret putting the extra time and effort into finding the product that gives your hardwood floors their best results.
In addition to research, ask around. If you’re buying a house with hardwoods already installed that look good as new, ask the sellers or their broker how they keep up with maintenance. Finding the best products available will be worth it when you have hardwood floors that last you and your family a lifetime.
Learning how to clean wood floors requires consistent upkeep and maintenance. They aren’t an aspect of your house that you can ‘set and forget.’ However, there are an endless number of options at your disposal that will help you keep your wood floors as clean as possible during the life of your home.
Use these tips to help you stay ahead of dirt and grime buildup, while getting the best and most long-lasting life out of your floors!
]]>When you think of a traditional mop, what comes to mind? Probably the classic cotton string mops that have been around for what feels like centuries. While these are the tried and true favorites of the mop industry, microfiber mops have been gaining popularity over recent years. Many folks go as far as to say that microfiber is the superior option when it comes to removing dirt, dust and grime from wood floors.
]]>Microfiber mops have been gaining popularity over recent years. Many folks go as far as to say that microfiber is the superior option when it comes to removing dirt, dust and grime from wood floors.
But keep in mind that Microfiber is NOT recommended for floors with a natural wax / oil finish.
Though they might be ok for a urethane finished hardwood floor, by using them over time on a wax oil finished floor, you will slowly damage and breakdown the finish overtime.
We’re here to go over the pros and cons of both the traditional cotton mop vs microfiber mop, and provide you with the information you need to make the right choice for you and your floors.
Cotton is a natural, breathable, and gentle fiber, making it great for cleaning wood floors. It’s not abrasive and won’t scratch or damage your hardwoods’ finish. It’s also a strong material that maintains its integrity over a long period of time, even when used in conjunction with harsh chemical cleaning agents like bleach.
They do absorb bacteria, making them a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and odor. But this is why you wash them thoroughly, in the washer, before the next use.
Microfiber mops are as gentle as cotton, while being significantly more absorbent and holding over triple their weight in water.
In addition to the above, microfiber mops have a much longer life than traditional cotton. With proper care and attention, these modern mops will last a great deal longer than their cotton counterpart.
With these benefits come the disadvantages. While microfiber picks up more bacteria and lasts longer than cotton, they are significantly more expensive to purchase. Cleaning the reusable microfiber mops is also a tedious, difficult, and time-consuming process.
So where did we land when it comes to cotton mop vs microfiber mop? It all comes down to what you and your family are looking for in a cleaner.
Both cotton and microfiber are gentle and light, even for your most fragile wood surfaces. For those with wax / oil finishes protecting their floors, Cotton is the only option.
If you’re looking for a solution that can take care of your busy household, a microfiber mop is probably your better option, if you have a floor with a urethane finish coating. While it’s more expensive, this material picks up a great deal more dust and dirt on your hardwoods than the cotton option. Microfiber will keep a clean house for the family that’s always on the go.
On the other hand, if you have a floor with a wax / oil floor the cotton mop is the right choice for you.
With either of the two heads, you should purchase 1 removable head cover per 400 SF of surface. This will allow you to interchange the heads as you clean thorough the house, for a more efficient job. One defeats the purpose of cleaning if they are using 1 head to clean their entire floor (even if they think they are rinsing is quite thoroughly).
]]>When wood begins to age, it can often take on a grayish appearance. This is especially true for wood that is constantly exposed to the elements. If your wood has begun to accumulate the telltale gray stain, it might be time to restore it via a chemical or manual restoration process. Keep reading to learn more about how to remove gray stain from wood.
]]>If your exterior wood has begun to oxidize leaving it gray in color, it might be time to restore it via a manual restoration process. Keep reading to learn more about how to remove gray stain from wood.
There are quite a few ways to learn how to remove gray stain from wood. We’ll walk you through the steps to each process and help you restore your wood back to its original beauty.
While this method requires the most elbow grease, it’s the least invasive method for the integrity of your wood. First, start by scrubbing your wood with quality product specifically formulated for the cleaning of exterior wood. After allowing the product to set in for an hour,
Using a stiff scrub brush to really get into the problem areas of your wood, paying particular attention to sections that have water damage, mold, and mildew. Rinse off the cleaning solution using water.
The last step is giving your wood a good rinse off with a power washer.
Once all the gray sludge has been eliminated, wait for your wood to dry before glossing over it with a new “natural” sealant for a long lasting finish.
If you don’t want to tire out your arm with a rigorous scrubbing, or the surface area of your wood is too much for one person, try the chemical stripping method to get rid of gray.
You can find chemical strippers for wood online or at your local hardware store. Always spot test before using any new products, otherwise you could have a real mess on your hands. Once you’ve spot-tested, rub the chemical stripper into the wood and watch as the gray stain starts to lift off.
After rinsing off the chemical stripper and letting the wood dry, if there’s any gray stain left over gently sand these spots down. Wipe the dust off with a damp cloth and you’re ready to re-stain your wood!
After staining, keep your wood covered so that it has a chance to dry completely before exposing it to the elements.
If your wood has some serious graying and it was originally protected with more of a plastic finish, consider manual stripping. With this method, you sand off the old finish and the gray by hand or with an electric sander.
Start with a coarse grit, and once complete, go over the wood again with a more medium grit. This will help to smooth out the surface and prepare it for staining and re-sealing.
After sanding, wipe the dust off with a damp cloth and wait for it to dry before applying your new finish. Keep the project dry before exposing it to the elements so that it can have the longest life possible.
Graying can be an undesired addition to your otherwise beautiful exterior wood, but don’t fret. Use one of the simple methods above to get rid of gray and restore your wood back to its beautiful appearance.
]]>Before you can know how to test the finish on hardwood floors, you need to know whether you’re dealing with a penetrating finish or a surface finish. There are a couple of ways to do this.
First, feel the surface of your floors. If you can feel the grain of the wood, the finish is probably what’s called a penetrating finish— meaning the finish is meant to penetrate into the wood after being applied.
To determine whether your floors have a surface finish, spot-test an out-of-the-way section of your floors with paint remover. If the surface of your floor bubbles, your hardwoods are coated with a surface finish and are meant to be longer-lasting.
Pick the most worn-out area of your floors, like the entryway, hallway, or kitchen. Pour a few drops of water over your floors and see what happens.
If the water beads, the sealant on your floors is doing its job and shouldn’t need to be refinished in the near future. However, if the wood darkens, the finish on your floors is partially compromised and you need to keep your eye on it.
If the water immediately absorbs and the wood darkens, your finish is no longer doing its job and your floors are susceptible to water damage. It’s a good idea to refinish them before they are further damaged and need to be completely replaced.
One of the most effective ways to know how to test the finish on hardwood floors is a visual appraisal of their appearance. Take a good long look at your floors in order to determine whether they’re showing any visible signs of distress or damage.
Some telltale signs include scratches, worn areas, and/or milky film. These are generally signs that your hardwood floors are in need of some attention.
Take the time to learn how to test the finish on hardwood floors. Keeping a close eye on your hardwoods is the best way to extend their life and keep them looking their best. Get the proper maintenance done as soon as you start seeing areas of concern. Holding off on it can only make the repairs more expensive.
Perform these tests once or twice a year, particularly during the harsher winter months, to ensure that your hardwood finish is doing its job at protecting your floors from life’s everyday wear and tear.
]]>A consistent cleaning schedule is essential to keeping your hardwood floors sparkling and long-lasting. Otherwise, dirt, dust, and grime build up and wreak havoc on the appearance and integrity of your floors.
But just let everything else in life when it comes to equipment, quality is key. A vacuum with good suction, is essential to keeping that dirt, dust and grime off of the floor.
One of the best ways to clean your hardwoods is vacuuming them regularly, either with a vacuum or vacuum attachment that’s specifically designed for hardwoods. Like those that come with a horse hair parquet attachment. Here are just a few of the benefits that come along with using a vacuum to clean your hardwood floors.
While sweeping helps to keep your hardwood clean, fine dust particles get missed by brooms all the time. Fine dust can damage your floors by scratching the finish and making it look dull and drab.
In order to avoid this, use a vacuum designed specifically for hardwood floors. When you vacuum hardwood floors, the vacuum sucks up all of the fine dust particles and permanently removes them from your floors. With sweeping, only a portion of dust is picked up. The rest is pushed around the floor when you mop, which can cause even more damage in the process.
Like many brooms, mops are notorious for moving dirt around a floor instead of getting rid of it for good. Not only does this make your floors stay dirty, but the constant abrasion of dirt being pushed around your floor can spell disaster for the finish on your hardwoods.
Don’t ever start mopping before you have thoroughly vacuumed your wood floor.
Vacuuming along with Mopping is important to keeping your wood floors clean. Many floors with wax / oil finishes, for example, actually need to be mopped frequently with a hydrating solution and hot water to keep their surfaces rejuvenated every time you clean. With a quality concentrated cleaning solution, that is recommended to enhance the finish of your floor, you will be doing your floor finish a favor. Hardwood surfaces alike are one of the most abused surfaced in the house. Especially if shoes are allowed. Imagine all of that bacteria being brought in from the outside! Vacuuming alone will not take care of this build up that can occur over time, and if you think taking a damp cloth with cold will do you any favors, think again.
No two vacuums are the same. Make the investment. Don’t use just any vacuum on your expensive hardwoods when there are vacuums designed specifically for hardwood floor.
There are a countless number of tools and attachments that come with vacuums that will help make your life easier while simultaneously extending your floor’s longevity.
Now can you see why you should vacuum hardwood floors? Vacuuming efficiently is extremely vital to keeping your wooden floorboards clean and protecting the finish.
]]>Gentle and consistent care is crucial in order to ensure a beautiful and long-lasting life for your hardwood floors. Here, we’ll go over a few ways we compare skincare to wood floor maintenance.
Just like skin care, maintaining your hardwoods requires consistency and commitment. Create a regular schedule for taking care of your floors that you can stick to. Think of it as being similar to multi-step skincare routines that include daily cleansing and alternating masks and treatments on certain days.
Stick to your hardwood maintenance as religiously as you would stick to a skincare regimen. If you maintain a laissez-faire attitude towards maintaining the integrity of your hardwoods, they will dull out and deteriorate and you’ll be looking at costly repairs in the future.
Hardwood floors need daily upkeep in order to maintain their best visual appeal. Just like you need to cleanse the everyday dirt and grime off your face, you need to cleanse your hardwoods in order to get rid of the dirt and grime your family tracks into the house.
Vacuuming and sweeping your flooring once a day will help you to drive down the buildup of grime and maintain the beautiful, glowing appearance of your hardwoods.
You wouldn’t use harsh chemicals that strip away the necessary moisture from your face, so don’t use them on your floors. Regularly using cleaning products that are too abrasive will do a great deal more damage than good when you use them on your floors.
Instead, pick products that are gentle and moisturizing on your hardwoods so that they can stick around for the life of your home.
When you’re searching for the best products to use on your floors, don’t look to social media or opinions from well-meaning strangers and coworkers. What worked for your coworkers skin might not work for yours, and the same goes for hardwood floors.
No two skincare routines are the same, just like no two hardwood floors are the same. Instead of guessing or taking casual advice about what to use on your floors, speak with a professional. All hardwood floors are different, and a professional will be able to recommend the right products that will work best for your exact flooring.
It might sound counterintuitive to compare skincare routines with the care and maintenance of hardwood floors, but when you put them side by side the similarities between them can surprise you.
Just like with skincare, when caring for your hardwoods be sure to place a high importance on gentle and consistent care. For every day care, avoid abrasion and harsh chemicals, because using these with too much frequency can severely damage your floors.
Following these easy wood floor maintenance tips will help to extend the life of your floors and keep them looking brand new and sparkling clean.
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