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The Pukka Guide to Wood Flooring Maintenance: Keeping Your Floors Beautiful for Decades
- 10 min reading time
Investing in wood flooring is a choice for timeless beauty and lasting quality. To ensure your floor retains its stunning appearance and structural integrity for decades, a simple, consistent wood floor cleaning and care routine is essential.
At Pukka Flooring, we believe proper maintenance is the key to longevity. This comprehensive guide outlines the do's and don'ts of caring for your solid wood or engineered wood flooring.
The Daily & Weekly Care Routine
The secret to a long-lasting wood floor lies in prevention and consistency.
1. Daily Debris Removal
The biggest enemy of a wood floor is grit and dust, which act like sandpaper underfoot.
•Sweep or Vacuum Regularly: Use a soft-bristled broom or a vacuum cleaner with a dedicated hard floor attachment. Crucially, ensure your vacuum does not have a rotating beater bar or bristle bar engaged, as this will scratch the surface and cause unsightly marks.
•Microfibre Magic: For the most effective dust removal, use a microfibre cloth or a dry mop head. This picks up fine particles without scratching the finish.
2. Weekly Cleaning
When it's time for a deeper clean, remember that moisture is wood flooring’s worst enemy.
•Use a Damp Mop, Not a Wet One: Clean your floor with a very slightly damp mop. The mop should be wrung out until it is barely moist. Never use a steam mop or a soaking wet mop, as excessive moisture will absorb into the wood, causing permanent damage, warping, or discolouration.
•Certified Cleaner Only: Only ever use a certified wood floor cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Harsh detergents, home remedies (like vinegar), or cleaning products designed for other surfaces can strip the finish, leave streaks, or cause permanent damage. A flat-headed spray mop is often the preferred tool for controlled application.
Prevention is the Best Maintenance
Preventable damage accounts for a significant percentage of wood flooring repairs. A few simple habits can dramatically extend the life of your floor.
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Prevention Measure
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Why It Matters
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Action to Take
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Protect from Scratches
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Furniture legs and moving objects can cause deep scuffs and scratches.
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Apply self-adhesive floor protectors (felt pads) to the bottom of all furniture, including chairs, tables, and sofas.
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Manage Foot Traffic
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Grit, mud, and wet shoes can stain and scratch the surface.
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Implement a "shoes off" policy. Use high-quality doormats at all entrances to trap dirt and moisture.
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Immediate Spill Cleanup
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Liquids, especially grease, alcohol, or sauces, can stain or penetrate the wood if left to sit.
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Mop up wet spills immediately with a clean, dry cloth. Do not let liquids linger.
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Pet Care
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Untrimmed pet claws can cause fine scratch marks across the floor.
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Trim your pet's claws on a regular basis to minimise surface damage.
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Long-Term Care and Restoration
Over time, even the best-maintained floor will show signs of wear.
1. Reviving the Finish (Every 6-12 Months)
To protect against everyday wear and tear and reduce the appearance of minor scratches, consider applying a reviving wax or maintenance oil.
•Reviving Wax: A water-based solution can be applied to rejuvenate the look of your floor, restoring a beautiful semi-gloss finish.
•Maintenance Oil: For oiled finishes, applying a maintenance coat of oil every few years will replenish the finish and provide renewed protection.
2. Repairing Damage
•Minor Scratches: For light surface scratches, a reviving wax can often be buffed in to reduce their visibility.
•Deep Damage: For deeper gouges, wood repair kits are available. These kits use a colour-matched wax to fill in the damage, making it virtually invisible.
3. Sanding and Refinishing (For Solid Wood)
The ultimate way to bring a tired-looking solid wood flooring back to life is through sanding and refinishing. This process removes the top layer of wood, leaving a fresh surface that can be re-finished with a new lacquer or oil.
Important Note: This process is only possible with solid wood and thick-wear-layer engineered wood flooring. Laminate flooring cannot be sanded, as its top layer is merely a printed image.
By following these simple, yet effective, wood flooring maintenance steps, your Pukka floor will remain a stunning feature of your home for many years to come.