Cleaning Your Wood Floor
Wood floors add grandeur to the space. They are also some of the most durable flooring options, capable of withstanding high levels of traffic – especially when finished with a durable lacquer. The beauty of functionality of the wood floors is tied to how well they are taken care of, and routine cleaning is a key part of this.
The dirt and debris accumulating on the wood floor is a threat to its structural integrity. The abrasive particles are grinded against the surface of the floor underfoot, wearing it down. Spills too are a concern, especially with their potential for staining, as well as the hygroscopic nature of the wood that causes it to soak up the moisture from the surrounding, meaning that it will readily soak up the liquids spilled on it. Actually, treating your floor with products like the Bona Traffic HD is essential to increase the resistance of the installation against these effects, to enable it to last for longer. That way the floor can withstand the barrage of abuse meted onto it on a daily basis, and it also reduces the risks of permanent stains forming on your floor.
Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Wood Floor
- Saturating it in water
Drenching your floor with water puts it at risk of structural damage. With the excess content being soaked up, issues like cupping, warping or even buckling can result. Water damage is a common problem that results from improper cleaning measures, which is also why you will see everyone from the floor installers to wood floor blogs insisting that you should avoid wet mopping the floor. Working with a damp mop will get the task done. You can also use a wood floor spray mop, where the mechanism only mists out a little water at a time, which enables you to control the amount of solution getting to the floor.
- Using a steam cleaner
If excess water is problematic, what about hot water under high pressure? This will cause extensive damage to the wood floor. This will be costly to remove, with high chances of structural damage that will require the floorboards to be replaced.
Use Wood Floor Cleaning Products
To avoid cases of corroding the wood floor or using harsh cleaners that weaken the finish coats, it is recommended that you work with products that have been specifically designed for use on these installations. There are pH-neutral cleaners that will break down the gunk without posing a risk to the floor.
The manufacturer of the treatment products used on the floor will have a recommendation of the compatible cleaning agents that can be used on it, to get rid of the dirt and grime without deteriorating the finish coats in the process.
Issues Arising From The Floor Cleaning Process
If you notice that the floor has become dull or streaky after the cleaning, then this may be as a result of using a cleaning liquid that is too concentrated. Simply wipe the floor with a damp cloth then buff it with a clean and dry cloth.
Are there stubborn dirt spots and scuff marks? Here you can use a higher concentration of the floor cleaning agent, applying it directly to the spot and allowing some dwell time before cleaning it off.
Amp Up Your Floor’s Protection With The Bona Traffic HD
Definitely, wear and tear are not resolved by simple cleaning. If there are excessive scratches on the floor, or the existing finish coats have been worn out over the years, then a round of floor sanding and refinishing will be required. To get quality results, the sanding needs to be thorough, reaching the bare wood, and the dust removed to avoid a case of it sticking to the wet finish coats that are to be applied. The choice of lacquer to use is also key, and this will be guided by factors such as the kind of traffic that is to be handled in the premises.
Why do we recommend Bona Traffic HD? It comes with a wide range of benefits, including:
- Top-notch durability
The protection that comes with the 2-component Bona Traffic HD enables it to provide superior abrasion resistance to the floors that are treated with it. The durability allows the floor to withstand heavy levels of foot traffic, chemical spills and other sources of deterioration that would have damaged the installation.
- Enhance the floor’s aesthetics
Whether you’re using it to accentuate the natural appeal of the wood floor, or you have applied a wood stain under it with a unique hue for the space, you get to enhance its effect with the Bona Traffic HD. It also comes in different sheen levels, from Silk Matt and Matt to ExtraMatt, that way you can get the resultant effect that works for your particular décor needs. The waterborne lacquer also won’t end up yellowing over time, meaning that you get to enjoy the beauty of the installation for longer.
- Safety attributes
This is a GREENGUARD Gold certified product, and also comes with EC1PLUS classification for very low emissions. These are testing standards that look at the type and quantity of compounds that are emitted by the products used in indoor spaces. For instance, with the GREENGUARD testing, the products are placed in dynamic environmental chambers for weeks or months, and where the temperature and humidity are controlled to ensure that there are no background VOC levels that will interfere with the process. The chemical analysts use processes that can detect hundreds of chemicals coming out of the product, and different items are tested – from electronics like laptops and humidifiers, to insulating material, furniture, and flooring products like the Bona Traffic HD. The testing process can take between 1-6 months, and is very stringent. There is an additional tier for the certification – the GREENGUARD Gold standard, where there are even lower emission limits, especially for formaldehyde, with the products passing this test being ideal for usage in areas like children rooms or schools, since the kids generally have a higher susceptibility to problems with the indoor air quality as they breathe in more air per body weight, meaning they will get a higher concentration of the pollutants that are in the indoor space. Obtaining the GREENGUARD Gold certification is further proof of the high safety levels of the Bona Traffic HD.