There’s a lot to love about Christmas. You’re surrounded by family and friends, eating plenty of fabulous food and definitely drinking plenty of delightful drinks, but all of these treats aren’t something to look forward to for one element of your household – your wood flooring.
So to make sure you don’t begin 2014 with a wood flooring that looks seriously worse for wear, check out this festive survival guide put together by the experts over at Posh Flooring.
Situation #1: The Red Wine Spill
It’s a classic household nightmare – a full glass of red wine has been spilled threatening to ruin everything it touches. A hardwood floor is no different, and should you leave it a day or two before properly dealing with it you could be faced with a very big problem indeed.
The secret is to tackle it as soon as the wine has been spilled.
STEP 1: Use an absorbent cloth or paper towel to soak up as much of the red wine as possible first, but remember, blot it rather than rub.
STEP 2: Pour some undiluted bleach on the area and leave it for about 45 minutes. However we’d recommend testing the bleach on a hidden area of the floor first to make sure it isn’t going to ruin the finish.
STEP 3: Finally, clean the area with a solution made from oil soap and hot water, using a soft cloth to scrub the wood.
Situation #2: The Cap-sized Gravy Boat
There is always plenty of gravy in-transit at Christmas time, so it wouldn’t be surprising if some of it ended up on your lovely hardwood floor, but as long as you get on it straight away you needn’t fret too much.
STEP 1: Use a damp cloth to wipe up as much of the gravy as possible.
STEP 2: If there is still a mark after cleaning with regular soap and water you can use a small amount of ammonia mixed with cold water. Apply this mixture with a soft cloth to avoid damaging the surface.
Situation #3: The Dirt from Outside is Brought Inside
If you’ve got family visiting for the festive period then the foot traffic in your home is going to increase a great deal. This will mean that more dirt and grime is brought into your home and trodden into your real wood flooring – especially if you have children coming over – but what can you do about it once everyone has gone home?
STEP 1: Before using any cleaning solution use a soft-bristled brush to sweep up any dust or debris that has accumulated.
STEP 2: You can use a well wrung-out mop on the floor only if it is sealed, but you still need to avoid leaving standing water, so use a dry mop to absorb any residual water.
STEP 3: A basic hardwood floor cleaner should be enough to take up grime from the floor boards, but it is essential that you read the product guidelines thoroughly before use. It is also advisable to test a new cleaning product on a hidden section of your floor first.
STEP 4: For wax-finished floors only wet-clean sparingly, using a wax polish to improve the patina, but you need to avoid over-using this as well as it can lead to a wax build-up that will make the floor look dirty anyway. If this does happen use white spirit to remove the wax and start again.
The secret to wood floor cleaning success is to combat dirt and stains as soon as they occur. This isn’t always possible of course, and for more complicated stain issues it is always wise to seek advice pertaining to your specific type of flooring as well as the kind of stain you’re dealing with. If all else fails, you could always just buy a fancy rug in the January sales…
John Rooney is a homeowner who recently invested in a brand new hardwood flooring fro Posh Flooring – head over to their website today to browse the extensive range of products they have on offer.