Protect Your Hardwood Floors With These Six Things
Wood floors can last for decades if properly cared for. Hardwood is a durable material that can add value to your home through its visual appeal and durability, but there are some culprits that can ruin your beautiful (and expensive) floors too soon. Knowing how to prevent fading can extend the life of your hardwood and save you money on restoration and replacement costs. Here’s what you should pay attention to.
UV and infrared light
Direct sunlight can cause hardwood to fade faster because it exposes the floor to ultraviolet and infrared light. These wavelengths of light are not visible to us, but they can cause damage to solid wood. You can prevent this type of fading by using UV/IR coating on your windows and leaving curtains and shades drawn when the sun shines directly through the windows. When choosing new windows when it’s time to replace your old ones, you can choose Low-E (low emissivity) windows. This will minimize the amount of infrared and ultraviolet light coming through your windows and thus help preserve your floors and also help reduce your utility bills.
Heat
Heat can cause hardwood to fade by browning the surface of the boards. While most heat damage to floors comes from sunlight, you should also be careful when using heaters, especially those that use infrared waves. If you use space heaters, place them on carpets or mats and keep the wood surface away from the direct line of fire of infrared heaters to preserve the color of your floors. If you have a wood stove or fireplace, using a fireplace mat can help prevent fading while also adding a layer of fire protection.
Moisture
Wood floors can be damaged by leaks, moisture, or outdoor water. Water damage can cause fading, especially if the floor covering is worn out. To prevent moisture damage, you can use mats in high-traffic areas to prevent water from getting in from outside, and wipe up spills or leaks as quickly as possible to keep your floors looking like new. If you live in an area with high humidity, using a dehumidifier can help your home feel more comfortable while also maintaining your floors.
Dirt
When you leave dirt on the floor, abrasive particles can come with it. These tiny particles can prematurely wear down the finish on your floors and cause them to fade faster than they otherwise would. To prevent wear and tear from dirt and sand, use mats to catch debris left on shoes, remove shoes when inside, and sweep or vacuum regularly to prevent dirt from sitting on the floor too long.
Salt
Salt and ice melting chemicals can quickly damage hardwood; salt can react chemically with wood fibers, causing fading and discoloration. To prevent salt from ruining your floors, keep snow boots away from hardwood by taking them off when indoors, using area rugs , and being sure to mop your floors if they get snow or water on them in the winter. You can also install an outdoor shoe scraper to remove most of the snow and debris from your shoes before entering the house.
Some cleaning products
Hardwood is a porous material, so it can absorb cleaning products, and they can cause discoloration on hardwood more quickly than on man-made surfaces such as vinyl plank floors. Acidic cleaners, such as ammonia-based floor cleaners or vinegar, can damage the finish of hardwood floors and cause them to fade. Other common household solvents that can discolor hardwood floors include acetone, which is commonly found in nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide. Another thing to avoid when cleaning hardwood floors is, of course, using a lot of water. To clean hardwood floors safely, follow our guide .