The Do's And Don'ts Of Cleaning Hardwood Floors

One of the most common questions asked by homeowners when deciding whether to get hardwood floors or not is, "How do I clean hardwood floors?" Here are a couple of the do's and dont's of hardwood floor cleaning:

DO- Sweep hardwood floors- Invest in a great broom to keep those hardwood floors clean.  A good broom can sweep away some of the little impurities.

DO/DON'T- Vacuum hardwood floors- Here's where having hardwood floors could get tricky! If you want to vacuum hardwood floors, only use a vacuum that doesn't have a beater bar. Upright vacuums with beater bars can put dents in hardwood floors, which is why they should never be used. Vacuuming can be done if you're using a vacuum without beater bars (such as a canister vacuum) with hardwood floor attachments. This type of vacuum will help clean between the floorboards without damaging the wood.

DO- Utilize rugs- Place rugs in areas that experience high foot traffic to prevent dirt, dust and dents from accumulating on hardwood floors. Also, place rugs near any areas where water could potentially splash onto hardwood floors to prevent water from seeping into the wood. Water can ruin hardwood causing it to warp or splinter.

DON'T- Use rugs with rubber or vinyl backing- In some cases, rubber or vinyl backing has damaged hardwood flooring, so check with the floors manufacturers to make sure rug backing won't be an issue.

DON'T- Use soaps or waxes- This includes any ammonia-based cleaners or oil soaps. Soaps or waxes could dull the finish and prevent future recoats from sticking to the polyurethane.

DO- Clean any sticky spots with a damp towel or sponge- Don't saturate the towel or sponge. The less water the better!

DO- Minimize water exposure- Always clean up spills immediately!

DO- Use a professional hardwood floor cleaner- Special cleaners are available and recommended for hardwood floors as a remedy to remove occasional nicks and marks on the floor. Spray some cleaner on a cloth to remove the marks. Be gentle!

For more cleaning tips and tricks, contact us or visit our webpage.

The Great Debate: Hardwood Versus Laminate

It’s the age-old debate—which is better, hardwood or laminate flooring? When deciding between whether to get hardwood or laminate flooring there are a multitude of things to consider. Price, installation, and variety are just a few things to think over before choosing flooring. Before making your selection, consider the pros and the cons of both.

Laminate- Laminate flooring is made from several materials that are pressed together at high temperatures. The photograph or image of hardwood is then placed on top of the material and is covered by a clear protective layer.

The Pros

-Durability- Since laminate floors are harder to dent and scratch, it makes a great flooring option for the kid-friendly or animal-friendly household. YES, lifestyle should be taken into consideration when choosing flooring.

-Easy installation- Laminate floors can be placed on top of almost any current flooring, except for carpeting. Flooring underneath isn’t destroyed in the process. Most laminate floors are installed easily with a tongue-and-groove system.

-Budget friendly- The flooring itself and the installation tend to be a little easier on the wallet than hardwood flooring and installation.

The Cons

-Moisture can damage laminate flooring- The materials in laminate floors are water resistant, however excessive moisture can cause laminate flooring to warp. This is something to consider depending on where you would like to put laminate floors. Thinking of placing it in the bathroom? That might not be the best choice.

-Harder to repair- Unlike hardwood floors, laminate can’t be refinished. Individual pieces can be purchased, but may not match the original flooring.

Hardwood- It’s the real deal! Hardwood is made from all types of harvested trees and depending on how exotic the trees are will depict the pricing. Hardwood is considerably pricier to buy and to install, but most homeowners will agree that the results are worth it.

The Pros

-Variety- Hardwood comes in great variations of all sorts of beautiful wood. There is no set standard wood. Homeowners can choose from woods like oak, ash, hickory, teak, etc.

-Resale appeal- Since many homeowners are looking for hardwood floors in their home, installing hardwood floors can instantly up your homes resale value.

-Long lasting- Hardwood floors are built for the long haul and hold up over long periods of time. They can be sanded and imperfections can be refinished out.

The Cons

-Price factor- Hardwood floors can get a tad pricey depending on which wood you choose and hardwood installs can cost more than laminate installs.

-Moisture- Excessive moisture can damage hardwood flooring, but (here’s a pro!) it can be repaired.

-Imperfections- Hardwood is susceptible to scratching and denting, especially in high traffic areas of the home. Lifestyle should be taken into consideration when purchasing either type of flooring.

Still having trouble deciding whether to go with hardwood or laminate? Talk to the experts here at Chicagoland Pro and we will help you choose.