How to Effectively Clean Hardwood Floors

  

 Chicagolandpro.co

Dark hardwood floors are very common flooring to have in their homes; they are elegant and beautiful floors. When you have dark hardwood flooring in your home’s main living areas: foyer, office, dining room, family room, kitchen, and bedrooms, they can get dirty.

While these floors are beautiful and make homes improve in value, they can be high maintenance; anyone with dark hardwood floors will agree. Every crumb, dog or cat hair, or spot of dust can show up on your floors like a big ol’ pimple on class picture day. We’ve all been there. It’s embarrassing. And just like the pimple showing up in the photo, having junk all over the floors when you have guests over is incredibly embarrassing.

So how do you deal with this dirt, while still loving your beautiful dark floors?

Relax. Your floors will not be 100% clean all day, every day. If you have pets, they will bring some dirt into the house and they will shed some hair. Your feet and shoes will bring some dirt into the house. If you try to clean every. Single. Dirt speck. You are going to drive yourself crazy. Vacuum and clean when you need to.

Have rules. With dark hardwood, footprints show up very easily. Consider wearing socks or slippers in the home. You can try shoes but those can scuff and track in dirt, unless you go the Mr. Rogers route and have indoor shoes. However, if you are keeping your floors clean for guests, then hold off on that rule for guests?

Have cleaning essentials. A vacuum, Swiffer duster mop (dry), and a microfiber mopping pad with hardwood floor cleaning spray.

Have a cleaning routine. Set up a schedule for days and times when you can get your cleaning done. Try to have one or two days a week when you can vacuum. Swiffer two to three times a week. Mop once a week.

If you need tips and help maintaining your floors with a trusted expert, then contact Chicagoland Pro, a hardwoodflooring expert. 

5 Things You Need to Know Before You Can Refinish Your Hardwood Floors

One of the more popular jobs my Chicago hardwood flooring company gets called to do, besides installation, is refinish hardwood floors. Some floors are close to 100 years old and can be a major undertaking to restore.

While for sake of time and sanity, it makes sense to hire a company, should you decide to do the job yourself, here are some tips to know.

1. It is a lot of hard work. 

Indeed, a lot of work. Depending on the size of your house and how much flooring you plan on refinishing, it can range anywhere from five days to seven or eight. And they will be long days. On one of my first jobs, it was a refinishing job for a house that wanted to redo their four bedrooms, the hallway, large living room, and the kitchen; I thought this was going to be a three day job. No sir! It took six days.

2. Know what is covering your floors. 

Back to the house I just mentioned in my first job. It was old and a little run down. Someone just bought it at an auction. Each room had a special challenge. A few of the rooms had no finish left on the floor and the previous owner had painted over the floors with this ugly yellow paint. One of the bedrooms had carpet covering the floor, then a thick layer of blue paint, then the hardwood floor. Due to the differences in coverings on the floor, we had to adjust our sanding style.

3. Price out your equipment. 

You will want to get a drum sander and an edger. Both are must-haves. Shop around and find the best price.

4. Stir up the poly between each use, okay? 

Some novices will make this mistake and it can be frustrating. If you use polyurethane, know that it is shiny but you can add a powder to reduce the shine. However, this powder will settle to the bottom so you have to stir the poly to keep it all mixed up. If you do not do this, then you might find some spots in your floors that are very shiny amongst more matte looks.

5. Know when to be done. 

Know when enough is enough. When you are refinishing old floors, there are going to be uneven spots; if your floors are covered in paint, you might find that you can't sand off the paint without ruining the floor. If you can't get the uneven spot or paint to go away without ruining the floor, do not ruin the floor. Sometimes, those little paint cracks or dip in the wood can make your floor feel and look vintage and organic.

Of course, if you cannot get a large bit of paint off or the floor is just in too bad of shape to restore, you can always cover with laminate hardwood flooring.

If you are unsure of what to do or would rather hire a company, then contact Chicagoland Pro, a hardwood flooring company in Chicagoland.



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How To Choose The Best Flooring For Your Space

Chicagoland Pro- Hardwood Installation, Repair and Refinishing 

Are you getting ready to do a renovation and not sure what type of flooring is best for your space. Let us help you make the best choice. 


Obviously, being a hardwood flooring company we are partial to hardwood floors. After 25 years serving the Chicagoland area we have never heard a client tell us that they hate their hardwood floors. In fact, when was the last time you walked into a home or space and thought "I hate these hardwood floors"? Probably never, and that is why we think installing hardwood floors is a good idea and a good investment. We realize that not everyone agrees so we want to help inform you on all the choices so that you can make the best choice for your home or space. 

The number one factor when trying to decide on the type of flooring you should install or add to a space is function. The way the space will be used, the amount of foot traffic, as well as the floors location in a space all play an important role in what type of flooring your choose. While many focus on the design of the space we encourage to first consider function and then narrow down design options based on what floor will perform better for it's designated space. 


1. Hardwood flooring is great because it can provide both functional and beautiful elements to a renovation. Not only will this floor look good and be easy to keep clean, but it is a great investment. Hardwood flooring can outlast the homeowners by many years and adds a significant value to a home. Not only will the floors last but when you are ready to sell your home, buyers will be more interested because of the hardwood flooring. 

Currently, there are many varieties and or types of hardwood flooring options for consumers. Engineered wood is a great option for those not interested in traditional hardwood floor. It not only is more affordable but also is better suited to kitchen and bathroom spaces, or those that have high levels of humidity.

People looking for GREEN Flooring options should consider bamboo or salvaged wood, and realize that traditional hardwood flooring is considered environmentally friendly. Not only does can hardwood flooring last for over a century, but you can make sure that it is certifiably green by contacting the Forest Stewardship Council. The FCS ensures that wood flooring products are grown and farmed responsibly. There are also Green floor finishes like the BONA finish we use at Chicagoland Pro that is guaranteed to have low amounts of VOC's. These options make wood flooring the best choice for those going to "GREEN".

2. Stone flooring can add a modern and upscale look to a home or space but is not considered environmentally friendly and comes at a high cost. Stone flooring can be a great choice for entrance ways and other spaces that are compact. We would not recommend stone flooring for large rooms such as living or dining areas unless you are ready to spend.
Stone flooring comes in many styles and options, but again, it's not always functional for every type of room.  

3. Vinyl & Laminate flooring is good option for people who have high traffic areas or the functionality of the space includes pets, kids and or constant cleaning. These types of floors are easy to clean and will function well in an area that will receive a lot of foot traffic. While it is not an investment or major improvement that will help sell a space, it can a fresh and clean look, if you are doing a remodel or sick of cleaning a carpeted area. There are many varieties to choose from, including some that look and feel like hardwood floors. For those that are interested in hardwood but do not want to spend the money on traditional hardwood, these types of floors are a great option. They will not last as long, but will enhance a space and offer easier cleaning, and less allergens. 

Have a question for our Hardwood Flooring Professionals? 

Get in touch with us:

+Chicagoland Pro Hardwood Flooring  

 Visit our website or Call  (630) 217-2748. 

Need help with a new installation or renovation? We can help! We offer repair, installation and refinishing services in the Northwest Chicago area and beyond. Here what our clients are saying & contact Chicagoland Pro today! 

Spring Clean Your Hardwood Floor

Chicagoland Pro- Hardwood Floor Installation & Finishing 

When the snow is melting, the life is coming back to nature, temperatures are rising, and people are getting happier, you know that spring is here. Sure, there is still some snow on the ground in much of the midwest but we know that spring is this close to being here and the age old concept of "spring cleaning" is knocking at our doors. 

Now, no matter what kind of floors you have, it is important that you get them clean and looking good for all those fun times you are about to have now that the roads aren't impassable due to the weather.

Hardwood flooring is definitely one of the simplest floors to clean and takes the least amount of work. Typically, to keep them in good shape means just having to sweep and vacuum them; you just want to keep all the dirt and dust (and other junk) from making your floors home and ruining them. Now, if you have spills or stains, you may have to use a mop or a wet mop device (the ones that have the spray and you attach the tissue to the base). If you use either one of these, make sure you do not soak your floor with too much of the liquid; use enough to get it clean but not to flood the place. Too much moisture can get in between the seems in the floors and ruin them; this can ruin the backing on the floors and perhaps ruin the finish.

If you are one to prefer carpeting, then what you have to do is vacuum and make sure that the vacuum filter is clean (this will give you a real good job at cleaning your carpet). If you have more aggressive cleanings to do, like for stains, then use a proper cleaning solution and blot the stain, don't wipe or rub.

If you have ceramic floors, then you have a pretty easy cleaning job as well, much like with hardwood flooring, your cleaning job is going to be a lot of vacuuming and easy mopping. However, you may have to do cleaning more regularly, daily almost. You have to do regular cleaning to avoid the buildup of things like mold, mildew, grime, etc. Use clean water and then wipe them dry. Make sure your grout is clean and good to go as well. If you have grout to clean, then mix some mild detergent (1/4 cup) with a gallon of water.

They say April showers bring May flowers, should there be April showers (or any other spring month), then try to keep the water out of the house and off your floors. If you have any questions, then contact Chicagoland Pro - a hardwood flooring company. 

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A Few Good Good Reasons To Refinish Your Hardwood Floor

Refinishing Hardwood Floors with Chicagoland Prowww.chicagolandpro.co 

Hardwood floor is a great investment and an asset to any home. Wood flooring, when properly taken care, can last as many as 100 years.

Hardwood flooring should be refinished at least one time in their time lifetime. There are many reasons to do this, but mainly it is a proactive step in protecting your investment. Often people decide to refinish their wood floors to eliminate scratches, stains and dents. Some of these minor issues can be fixed individually but over time the floor will not be able to withstand damage from traffic. At this point refinishing and protecting the floor is a good idea. 

Refinished hardwood floor can also help update the look of a home, allowing for changes in color and style to any room. It does not matter if your goal is to update a space for the purpose of selling or a redecorating project, refinishing your floor can create a completely different look and feel in a room. 

Refinishing do it yourself projects can be a big undertaking for people. It is always advised to get assistance from a professional to insure that the floor is not damaged. When it comes to sanding and staining, it takes a professional with years of experience to do the job right and when done incorrectly can destroy even the best hardwood floor.  

There are tools available and new advancements in refinishing products in recent years.  Time spent away from your home has drastically reduced with some of the new products, and they are also safer; allowing residents to have peace of mind knowing the quality of air after a refinishing project is much better for them and their families. When you start refinishing your hardwood floors ask the contractor working on the project what type of products they use and do some extra research about the options of available to you. Take advantage of the VOC Free and LOW VOC products on the market and get informed. 

Here at Chicagoland Pro we use a Bona refinishing products that has a LOW VOC count and has almost half the drying time compared to traditional products. We are proud to use Bona, as it not only is healthier for our clients but also safer for our staff.

Refinishing floors in your home can be done for a number of reasons. Updating the style or redecorating, protecting your hardwood flooring or simply getting ready to sell your home. Before starting this project it is always important to get in touch with your local hardwood floor professional and get their help in deciding how best to proceed. Some people may find that they may be able to complete the project on their own, but could use some assistance working out a plan and getting a professional opinion. Other people may benefit from having an experienced professional refinish their floor. Either way there is help our there. 

Most flooring professionals,  including Chicagoland Pro offer consolations for free and will help you make a plan based on your needs, wants, home and property. This will help you not only save time and money, but make sure that your are getting the result you want in the end.

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