The snow has melted, the birds are chirping, and the days are getting longer. Winter has marked its farewell and all signs point to a sunny, warm spring!

After a long Ottawa winter, everyone is eager to stow away the winter hats, gloves, jackets and boots. While those boots may have kept toes toasty warm, they also tracked snow, salt, sand and other grime into your home. Despite your best intentions, your hardwood floors may have succumbed to sand and salt scratches or just look dull. Fortunately, with a little tender loving care, you can give your hardwood floors a spring makeover.

Welcome Spring with a Deep Floor Cleaning

Dust, oil, grit and other particles can lodge into the seams and crevices of your hardwood floor. While regular dust mopping, sweeping and vacuuming goes a long way in caring for your floors, an occasional deep cleaning can protect the wood floor finish, reduce allergens, and guard against unwanted damage.

Damp Mopping Technique

First, take the time to sweep or vacuum the floor. Where possible, use a crevice tool to lift dirt particles from the floor seams. Many homeowners find it easiest to work room by room, starting with the high traffic areas. Once the floor surface is clean, move on to damp mopping.

Damp mopping should be done with a wood-cleaning product specially formulated for wood floors and diluted according to the label directions. Before you begin, you may wish to verify if your chosen product is recommended or approved by your hardwood flooring manufacturer. If you are unable to obtain information from the manufacturer, a pH-neutral soap (e.g. Sunlight Bar Soap) mixed with water works best.

Dampen the mop in your prepared solution and then wring it dry. The mop should feel only slightly damp, never wet. Mop in the direction of the wood grain. Repeat the process as necessary until the floor is clean.

Spray Misting Technique

Finitec Wood Floor Cleaner in a BottleFor those who would prefer to avoid using a damp mop, spray misting works well for deep cleaning wood floors. In fact, at the Logs End showroom we use Finitec’s Wood & Laminate Cleaner with the misting technique.

Mix your wood-cleaning solution of choice and pour into a spray bottle. Mist the floor in small sections, then use a clean, dry microfiber mop or microfiber cloth to wipe in the direction of the wood grain. Repeat as required.

Wood Floor Cleaning No-No’s

At no time should tile or vinyl self-polishing products be used on wood floors. Self-polishing products contain acrylic waxes which cause wood surfaces to become very slippery. They can also cause premature dulling of the finish.

In addition, wood floors should never be wet-mopped. Wet mopping can leave standing water on the surface of the planks or in the crevices, which can result in damage to the wood, discolouration, or clouding of the finish.

Do Your Floors Lack Luster?

Over time, hardwood floors can loose their shiny luster. While many homeowners appreciate the warm, lived-in charm, others may wish to call in a professional to have the wood floor refinished.

If you need cleaning tips, suggestions to make your floor shine or need guidance with refinishing, please call the Logs End team at 1.613.831.9333