Protecting Hardwood Floors from Damage

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There is nothing like the look of a refinished hardwood floor. You’ve spent money on your investment, so its important to protect your hardwood floors from damage to ensure that they will reward you with a lifetime of elegance and beauty. There are many preventive measures that you can take to help maintain the sheen of your floors including sweeping and vacuuming your floors regularly, wiping up spills as soon as they occur, and protecting your floor from scratches by using various furniture pads. There are also excellent hardwood floor cleaners available that help to not only clean your wood floors, but to protect them. While it is much easier to prevent damage to your hardwood floors than to repair them, unfortunate situations may occur and it may become necessary for you to replace or repair a floorboard that has become damaged. Fortunately, replacing a floorboard is much easier than having to redo the entire floor.

If you spill water on your hardwood floor, it is imperative to clean it up immediately and dry the area thoroughly. Preventing water from soaking through the finish is the best way to keep your floor damage free. However, if the water soaks through and you notice a hazy or foggy area, you can try removing it with some trusted home remedies.

One method that has been used to remove water damage from wood floors includes using toothpaste or cigarette ashes on the spot. Using a soft cloth, such as chamois and toothpaste or cigarette ashes mixed with a little mineral oil, gently buff the area until the spot disappears.

You can also repair white or darkened water stains yourself. First, using painter’s tape, block off the area that has the stain. Next, you will need to remove the finish off of the area. You will be retreating the area and as your final step, applying new finish. To remove the finish, use either sandpaper or a steel wool pad and sand the finish off of the area. Next you will mix 1 cup of Oxalic Acid with hot water and blend until the crystals are thoroughly dissolved. Now, apply the Oxalic Acid and water mix over the stain, let dry, then brush off. Keep repeating the process until the water damage is completely gone.

After repairing the water damage you will need to restore the finish. If you have refinished hardwood floors, you may need to stain the new floorboards. It is important to note whether you have a Polyurethane or wax finish and buy the same finish for your area. After applying the first layer of the finish, let it dry. Before adding a second coat, go over the first layer with a fine steel wool pad. After wiping away the debris, you can successfully add your second and final layer.

You’ve invested money, and perhaps a lot of time to get your floors looking amazing. By taking care of them, you can avoid costly hardwood floor repairs and keep your floors looking good as new.

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