Repairing and refinishing your hardwood floor can be quite a challenge, but with the right preventive measures and maintenance techniques, your hardwoord floor can stay as good as the first time you installed it even after several years.
Some of the best hardwood flooring, for instance, have withstood the test of time and stayed around for decades, even a century. If you take a look at old homes that still stand nowadays, you will see how their hardwood floors have stayed intact and stable through the years.
Thus, if we want to enjoy the full aesthetic and functional benefits of our hardwood floors, we should know how to properly take care of them so they don't easily succumb to wear. Because hardwood floors are organic and can potentially decay, cleaning them regularly is necessary.
There is a technique to the proper cleaning of hardwood floors. For one, you shouldn't use a damp rag to wipe it because the moisture might cause damage to your finishing. If your floor has just been waxed and coated with finish, you have no reason to worry about the water seeping into the woodwork. But if it has been a while since you've refinished your floor, then you should be careful to use only soft dry rags to polish it.
When sweeping, use only brooms with exploding bristles because they are the most effective in taking out grime and dust. The wrong broom might only have the dirt accummulate in the wrong places and lead to bigger headaches in the future. There are also cleaning fluids that are exclusive for use on hardwood floors. Don't experiment with other cleaning materials or you might be sorry.
If your hardwood floor has lots of burns and scratches, sanding the area lightly and then reapplying a coat of finish will make your floor as good as new again. If sticky chewing gum is your problem, then you should ice the deposit first until it becomes brittle enough to crumble off. For hardheaded gums, try pouring floor cleaner around it so it loosens up.
Hardwood floors last a lifetime and more if properly maintained and regularly cleaned. Thus, it is our responsibility to apply the right methods to ensure that they outlive us.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
How To Repair Damages On Your Hardwood Floor
Your hardwood floor, no matter how sturdy, is not spared from wear and tear. Over time, it will be at the mercy of water or ink spills, heel scratches, hardened gum, accumulated dust and grime, and other floor nuisances. But before you pick up the phone to call for professional assistance, know that there are certain minor damages that you can remedy yourself.
Here are some tips on how to repair damaged hardwood flooring.
1) Damage caused by stains
Water is the worst enemy of hardwood floors. A single stain can ruin the look of the entire surface and, often, the only way to effect the necessarily repairs to get rid of this eyesore is to refinish the whole floor.
However, you can still try to salvage the situation by focusing on the affected spot first. If it's not something you can remedy through sanding, then that's the time you search for replacement planks. But, hey, if you think the stain is what gives your floor character, then you really have nothing to fuss about.
2) Damage caused by scratches
Some people use putty sticks to fill in the scratches. Simply rub the stick over the affected spot and then wipe it clean with a soft dry cloth. More likely than not, any semblance of a scratch will disappear. This is a quick fix to a big problem and will save you from having to bring in the experts for such a minor job.
3) Damage beyond the power of minor repairs
Of course, there will be times where the damage becomes too much for simple repair techniques to handle. In this case, you will need to replace the hardwood board that has been destroyed. Again, there is no need to phone the specialists for this job because it is something you can manage yourself.
What you should do is take out the damaged board, get a new plank that's of the same size and lay it on. Now this seems very easy but it actually involves several processes to complete. But while there are several procedures, you will find that each step is easy to follow, even for someone who is a beginner at floor board replacements.
Your hardwood floor gives you more value than you think. Aside from its physical beauty, the fact that it withstands the test of time is enough reason for you to award it with the regular maintenance checks and care it deserves. And if the job can be done using only both your hands and your patience, then spending for professional help is impractical.
Here are some tips on how to repair damaged hardwood flooring.
1) Damage caused by stains
Water is the worst enemy of hardwood floors. A single stain can ruin the look of the entire surface and, often, the only way to effect the necessarily repairs to get rid of this eyesore is to refinish the whole floor.
However, you can still try to salvage the situation by focusing on the affected spot first. If it's not something you can remedy through sanding, then that's the time you search for replacement planks. But, hey, if you think the stain is what gives your floor character, then you really have nothing to fuss about.
2) Damage caused by scratches
Some people use putty sticks to fill in the scratches. Simply rub the stick over the affected spot and then wipe it clean with a soft dry cloth. More likely than not, any semblance of a scratch will disappear. This is a quick fix to a big problem and will save you from having to bring in the experts for such a minor job.
3) Damage beyond the power of minor repairs
Of course, there will be times where the damage becomes too much for simple repair techniques to handle. In this case, you will need to replace the hardwood board that has been destroyed. Again, there is no need to phone the specialists for this job because it is something you can manage yourself.
What you should do is take out the damaged board, get a new plank that's of the same size and lay it on. Now this seems very easy but it actually involves several processes to complete. But while there are several procedures, you will find that each step is easy to follow, even for someone who is a beginner at floor board replacements.
Your hardwood floor gives you more value than you think. Aside from its physical beauty, the fact that it withstands the test of time is enough reason for you to award it with the regular maintenance checks and care it deserves. And if the job can be done using only both your hands and your patience, then spending for professional help is impractical.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
How to Choose a Hardwood Floor Vacuum
Hardwood Floor Vacuum
You have invested a great deal of time, money, energy, and love into your hardwood floors, it only makes sense that you want to choose the hardwood floor vacuum that is perfect for their care in order to properly protect your investment. The only way to ensure the longevity of your hardwood floors is to take very studious care to prevent spills and stains from scratching, staining, or harming your floors in any way. A vacuum designed for the cleaning of hardwood floors can come in quite handing in assisting you in this endeavor.
You want to make sure first of all that it is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner so that it can not only pick up dust but also liquids as well. You can choose which mode you wish to operate the machine (hardwood floor vacuum) in at any given time. By selecting the dry mode you are enabling it to pick up debris that may become imbedded in the floor. The dry attachment for a proper hardwood floor vacuum will be hollow and shaped somewhat like a squeegee.
Using a hardwood floor vacuum in wet mode is a little more involved but not an overly complicated task. You simply fill the canisters with the recommended amount of cleaning product and get to work. As you vacuum you are not only spraying liquid out but also sucking it back in so that you are leaving the floors dry behind as you go. You should note that while the wet/dry vacuum is the most recommended option for hardwood floors, they do not react kindly to uneven planking or rough spots and edges to the floor.
You will also want to choose a model (hardwood floor vacuum) that will not put tremendous strain on your back to use. For this purpose many people prefer upright models to be more ideal in this regard. The easier it is to use your vacuum the more likely you will be to actually use it for every day spills and such. Ideally the models weighing between ten and fifteen pounds offer the most ease of use to consumers.
For any of these models, you should expect to pay more than $200 for a good quality brand of hardwood floor vacuum. Some of the brands you may wish to consider include Oreck, Hoover, and Dirt Devil.
source: http://www.jiancai365.cn/new_view.asp?id=5635
Hardwood Floor Vacuum
You have invested a great deal of time, money, energy, and love into your hardwood floors, it only makes sense that you want to choose the hardwood floor vacuum that is perfect for their care in order to properly protect your investment. The only way to ensure the longevity of your hardwood floors is to take very studious care to prevent spills and stains from scratching, staining, or harming your floors in any way. A vacuum designed for the cleaning of hardwood floors can come in quite handing in assisting you in this endeavor.
You want to make sure first of all that it is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner so that it can not only pick up dust but also liquids as well. You can choose which mode you wish to operate the machine (hardwood floor vacuum) in at any given time. By selecting the dry mode you are enabling it to pick up debris that may become imbedded in the floor. The dry attachment for a proper hardwood floor vacuum will be hollow and shaped somewhat like a squeegee.
Using a hardwood floor vacuum in wet mode is a little more involved but not an overly complicated task. You simply fill the canisters with the recommended amount of cleaning product and get to work. As you vacuum you are not only spraying liquid out but also sucking it back in so that you are leaving the floors dry behind as you go. You should note that while the wet/dry vacuum is the most recommended option for hardwood floors, they do not react kindly to uneven planking or rough spots and edges to the floor.
You will also want to choose a model (hardwood floor vacuum) that will not put tremendous strain on your back to use. For this purpose many people prefer upright models to be more ideal in this regard. The easier it is to use your vacuum the more likely you will be to actually use it for every day spills and such. Ideally the models weighing between ten and fifteen pounds offer the most ease of use to consumers.
For any of these models, you should expect to pay more than $200 for a good quality brand of hardwood floor vacuum. Some of the brands you may wish to consider include Oreck, Hoover, and Dirt Devil.
source: http://www.jiancai365.cn/new_view.asp?id=5635
Hardwood Floor Vacuum
Monday, October 13, 2008
Hardwood Floor Vacuum: Tips to Clean Your Hardwood Floor.
Hardwood Floor Vacuum
Realize that if you decide to have hardwood flooring in your home, you'll have to learn the proper hardwood floor care to ensure that your floor stay behinds in good shape. It is especially critical if you have your floor installed in a high-traffic area in your home, such as the living room and kitchen. Over time, hardwood floors lose their shine and texture so care and maintenance is essential. Hardwood floor vacuum is your best choice to cleanup your hardwood floor.
Usual household dusting and cleaning products will cause damage, however, and you must use only hardwood floor vacuum purposely designed for hardwood. Vacuuming (hardwood floor vacuum) is preferable to sweeping because it lets the dirt and dust to be pulled from between the boards, but use a vacuum (hardwood floor vacuum) with a bare floor attachment, not a beater bar, which can damage the wood.
If you regularly use a vacuum (hardwood floor vacuum) on your floors, make sure you use the soft-bristled attachment rather than the hard sweeper attachment. This will suck up the dirt and debris without scratching the wood or damaging the finish on your hardwood floors.
You should vacuum your hardwood floor twice every week but others prefer to vacuum their floor only once every week to reduce scratching. To ensure that your floor is free from any scratch, use the soft brush vacuum attachment (hardwood floor vacuum).
This is some tips on how to clean your floor using hardwood floor vacuum:
Step 1
Take a look at your hardwood floor vacuum cleaner. Most upright vacuum cleaners have adjustable heights for the floor brushes that spin as the hardwood floor vacuum cleaner is pushed and pulled. These varying heights are set to accommodate various carpet piles, and they can also be turned off when the control is set to the hard floor setting. Spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the brush settings on your hardwood floor vacuum before you use it for cleaning hardwood floor, so you know how to turn the brushes off.
Step2
Check the hardwood floor vacuum to be sure that the filter and screens are cleared of any obstructions that might prevent the hardwood floor vacuum from operating at maximum suction.
Step3
Survey the room. If there are pieces or piles of large debris, such as dry foods (like cereal or cracker crumbs) or environmental accumulation (such as dried mud or sand), it is best to use the hose attachment on the hardwood floor vacuum cleaner to remove these piles first. Pushing the vacuum through the pile may scatter the debris across the floor.
Step4
Use the hose attachment of the hardwood floor vacuum to vacuum the perimeter of the room, following the baseboards to remove dust and buildup that may have been pushed aside by the broom.
Step5
Slide the hose attachment of the hardwood floor vacuum underneath furniture to clean the hardwood floors hidden by larger items. (If you plan to move the furniture out of the way and vacuum the floor, this step will not be necessary.)
Step6
Return the hose of the hardwood floor vacuum to its holster, and vacuum the main areas of the hardwood floor in the same fashion you vacuum the carpeted areas of your home. Work in small sections at a time, and go over the areas in both horizontal and vertical paths to help ensure that you are removing all of the dust and debris.
Hardwood Floor Vacuum
How to Choose a Hardwood Floor Vacuum
Hardwood Floor Vacuum
You have invested a great deal of time, money, energy, and love into your hardwood floors, it only makes sense that you want to choose the vacuum (hardwood floor vacuum) that is perfect for their care in order to properly protect your investment. The only way to ensure the longevity of your hardwood floors is to take very studious care to prevent spills and stains from scratching, staining, or harming your floors in any way. A vacuum (hardwood floor vacuum) designed for the cleaning of hardwood floors can come in quite handing in assisting you in this endeavor.
You want to make sure first of all that it is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner so that it can not only pick up dust but also liquids as well. You can choose which mode you wish to operate the machine (hardwood floor vacuum) in at any given time. By selecting the dry mode you are enabling it to pick up debris that may become imbedded in the floor. The dry attachment for a proper hardwood floor vacuum will be hollow and shaped somewhat like a squeegee.
Using a hardwood vacuum in wet mode is a little more involved but not an overly complicated task. You simply fill the canisters with the recommended amount of cleaning product and get to work. As you vacuum you are not only spraying liquid out but also sucking it back in so that you are leaving the floors dry behind as you go. You should note that while the wet/dry vacuum (hardwood floor vacuum) is the most recommended option for hardwood floors, they do not react kindly to uneven planking or rough spots and edges to the floor.
You will also want to choose a model (hardwood floor vacuum) that will not put tremendous strain on your back to use. For this purpose many people prefer upright models to be more ideal in this regard. The easier it is to use your vacuum (hardwood floor vacuum) the more likely you will be to actually use it for every day spills and such. Ideally the models weighing between ten and fifteen pounds offer the most ease of use to consumers.
For any of these models, you should expect to pay more than $200 for a good quality brand of hardwood vacuum. Some of the brands you may wish to consider include Oreck, Hoover, and Dirt Devil.
| Rob Buenaventura invites you to Hardwoodscene. Here we provide tips on refinishing hardwood floors and hardwood installation. For more tips on how to clean hardwood flooring, check out http://www.hardwoodscene.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Buenaventura |
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