In many buildings, especially houses, having a well-polished hardwood floor can mean sophistication and an elevated sense of style. After all, nothing says expensive and luxurious more than these glossy wooden panels adorning every path of one’s home. However, this stylish floor plan can be a bit expensive so ensuring that it remains in tip top shape is a priority.

Homeowners and building companies should be aware that hardwood floors continue to be affected by the environment given the fact that they are usually made from organic components. Anything you spill, apply or accidentally coat the wood panels with can actually do more harm than good.

There are a couple of obvious and not so obvious things that most people are doing to shorten the longevity of their hardwood floors. Some of these ideas are even masked through cleaning applications and through the intent of protecting them. Here are some of the simple things that people are unintentionally doing to ruin their long term flooring investments.

Keeping it clean and polished

Hardwood floors are sexier and more lavish if they maintain their glossiness over time. However, the span of the floor area can be too wide or too big to clean thoroughly. With little or no time, some people just go ahead and put a huge amount of cleaning products directly on the floor for faster and bigger coverage.

Cleaning products are mostly made of liquid and what happens when too much water seeps into wood? It creates swelling, and once it does, there will be an uneven section in your living room floor! Therefore, always use a cloth with liquid cleaner and do not apply the chemical directly to the hardwood.

Tape may secure your rug but not your hardwood floor

It’s customary to place carpets or rugs in some areas even with hardwood floors. Most use this to protect the floor from scratches and spills, especially in crowded areas. But, it’s not easy to make a rug sit still on a well-polished floor. Most people rely on adhesives to anchor their carpets or runners onto the wooden base.

These adhesives can easily lessen the glossiness of the hardwood floor and in turn ruin its finish. Double-sided tapes stick to the floor and when one tries to pull it off, the wood’s finish will come off as well. Most professionals will recommend that homeowners use a rug pad that is made from natural materials to keep the runners and rugs in place without harming the floor.

Leave the steaming to the carpet

It’s natural to steam the carpet clean but for hardwood floors, the last thing that most people want to do are get it wet! Although one can use steam to a minimal level to quickly clean through the surface, professionals will suggest that people steer clear of it entirely.

Heat can easily break down the hardwood floors and over time they will become brittle and the finish will disappear in a short amount of time. Again, getting these floors wet is never a good idea.

Hardwood floors are investments that every homeowner or building owner needs to protect. RPC Cleaners understand this and offer highly professional and well-learned hardwood floor experts to help clean and maintain the pristine quality of hardwood floors. Call them at 0208 994 4778!