When your hardwood floors begin to show signs of wear and tear, they may need some TLC. Luckily, you don’t need to completely sand them back down to restore their beauty.
By using a buffer and applying either wood stain or polyurethane, you can quickly restore your floors back to their former glory. Just follow these simple steps.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming your hardwood floors is an integral step towards restoring them back to their former glory. Removing dust particles that scratch the surface and leave wood more vulnerable to staining and damage is essential, while using a vacuum with an attachment tailored specifically for hardwood flooring is sure to reach every corner and edge where dirt tends to collect.
Once your floors have been vacuumed, apply and rinse a hardwood floor-friendly cleaning solution with an appropriate hardwood mopping mop, followed by drying them using either microfiber cloths or paper towels in the direction of wood grain and using fans to speed up drying times.
When staining or topcoating floors, be sure to wear a dust mask and respirator that filters out volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs can cause headaches, dizziness and respiratory problems; furthermore be sure to protect furniture, rugs and walls using plastic sheeting and painter’s tape for the duration of the staining or topcoating process.
Cleaner
If your hardwood floors have become covered with deep scratches, gouges or other surface damage, it may be time to contact a professional refinisher for refinishing services. Re-oiling could also improve their appearance if their luster has faded over time and they appear dull.
Before beginning to refinish your hardwood floor, be sure to strip any existing stain from its surface. A clean surface is necessary in order to accept new stain applications; use non-abrasive scrubbers when removing stain as steel wool cleaners can damage and ruin its finish.
Area rugs can help minimize dirt and sand being tracked onto your hardwood floors, and excessive waxing should be avoided to avoid trapping moisture beneath the finish and leading to cupping. If moisture does gather near or on your hardwoods, try eliminating it quickly by opening windows or using dehumidifiers if necessary.
Stain or Paint
No matter if you painted your walls yourself or had them professionally done, chances are some paint has made its way onto your hardwood floors. Luckily, it should be straightforward to take care of this without needing to refinish them all: simply using water-based cleaners like soap suds will likely do the trick; otherwise using chemical strippers may damage their finish permanently and require professional removal instead.
If your floors are oil-based, extra effort will be necessary in order to remove stains. Heat guns may help melt away the paint before scraping it off with plastic scraper; or use a hair dryer with warm air instead if heat gun too powerful; this approach is generally less risky than using chemical solvents that may damage floors and require waiting until your floors have completely dried before proceeding with this method.
Buffing
Once your hardwood floors have been refinished, it’s essential to apply a clear sealant as this will prevent future scuff marks or scratches.
Maintaining regular vacuuming, cleaning and buffing of your hardwoods will keep them looking their best for as long as possible. Protective mats or rugs should also be placed over them to reduce dirt tracking onto them.
Water-based paints can usually be removed easily from wood with soap and water alone, though stubborn spots may remain. If this fails to do the trick, try heating up the area using a heat gun in order to soften and scrape away more easily.
Remember to always follow the directions and rinse thoroughly when using chemical solutions, or they could leave behind residue chemicals which could eventually discolor your floors over time. If reusing an old stain, neutralize and rinse again so as to ensure compatibility between new coats of stain and old one.