It’s Spring Cleaning Time! Simple Do’s and Don’ts For Hardwood Floors

Spring is only a day away, although it certainly hasn’t felt like it for the past several weeks! So is your spring cleaning checklist ready to go? Don’t forget  also to give your hardwood floors some extra TLC this time of year. Below are some simple Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind this spring:

Do’s

• Establish simple cleaning rituals – vacuuming regularly, or wiping down your hardwood floors with a damp cloth or dry mop, will take away the dirt and debris and keep scratches to a minimum. And with more outside dirt entering the house this time of year, regular cleaning is more important than ever.
• Use soft brushes – if you haven’t already, invest in a new soft-bristle broom or a vacuum with a soft brush attachment.
• Consider an area rug – using area rugs or mats is a great way to protect floors that are in the line of heavy traffic during spring and summer months (when the kiddos are constantly running in and out of the house to play!).
• Remember your sunscreen – over time, ultraviolet rays from excessive sunlight will change the color of a hardwood floor. If a certain floor area is exposed to heavy sun in the spring and summer, be sure to close window blinds or shades for protection – especially during the brightest time of day.
• Follow manufacturer’s recommendations – if you’re unsure of the manufacturer’s guidelines for your floor, give us a call and we’ll gladly assist.

Don’ts

• Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar – this can scratch the floor during the cleaning process.
• Don’t clean with soap or harsh ammonia cleaners – this will dull your floor finish and cause possible discoloration. Reserve those hard cleaners for your other spring-cleaning tasks.
• Don’t use water – applying water directly to your hardwood floors is a big NO; always use a damp cloth with a wood floor cleaner. Keep the spring showers outside!
• Don’t over-wax – waxing once or twice a year is recommended. If you over-wax your wood floor and it dulls, use a buffer to regain the shine.
• Don’t drag your furniture – during your big spring cleaning blitz, never drag furniture across your hardwood floors. Be sure to lift the furniture or use protective pads underneath the legs to prevent scratches.

Happy Spring Cleaning! And if you need to take a break from all those chores, visit our website at www.flooring-professionals.com for some flooring (and more) inspiration!

Decorating with Area Rugs

Shown: Tiburon in Rusted Rose from Colonial Mills, Inc.

Area rugs make a wonderful addition to nearly every type of room in your home. Regardless of the type of flooring or carpet you have, the addition of an area rug can spice up the décor as an accent feature or become the focal point of a room. Area rugs come in many shapes, styles and colors to match nearly any decorator’s taste.

Aside from being a great decorating tool, area rugs have quite a few benefits you may not have considered. One of the best features is that an area rug can protect high traffic areas of the home. Placing an area rug on a hardwood or laminate floor can help prevent wear and tear and protect the floor’s surface from scratches and gouges that may happen due to chair legs scraping the surface under normal circumstances.

Large rooms can be a challenge to decorate, especially rooms in the home designed to serve multiple purposes. Many people love open floor plans which can include living rooms with sitting rooms or sunrooms attached: but a real challenge is found with laying out furniture in these types of rooms. With a lack of wall space comes the difficulty of blending one room into the next. An area rug can easily divide a large room into functional parts by drawing attention to the rug itself, with furniture placed strategically around the rug. This set-up can make furniture in the room without a wall appear to be in place, rather than out of place.

In contrast, area rugs can do the opposite of dividing a room if multiple sizes of the same patterned rug are used throughout the home. For example, a living room with a dining room attached can feel like a cohesive space with the use of matching rugs in both rooms.

Tips for Choosing a Rug Size:

• Leave 18 to 24 inches of border between the rug and wall on all sides in rooms used as living or family rooms

• Leave 2 to 4 inches between the walls and the rug in hallways. Hallway rugs should also be roughly two feet shorter than the hallway.

Is It Time to Re-Carpet?

Homeowners, landlords and even business owners will face this dilemma at some point – Do I re-carpet or just have the existing carpet professionally cleaned? Most carpets on the market today are designed to last anywhere from 10-20 years. If you experience any of the issues below, it’s probably time to invest in new carpet.

1. Matted Appearance – when certain areas of your carpet (typically high-traffic areas) look flat and matted down, this means that the carpet fibers have lost their resiliency. Chances are a professional carpet cleaning will not greatly help the fibers go back to their upright position, especially with carpets that are made from polyester fibers. Carpets made from Nylon or Sorona® have a better chance of bouncing back, at least a little bit, after cleaning.
2. Stains That Won’t Go Away – anti-stain treatments such as Scotchgard™ are only applied to the carpet surface and will eventually wash or wear off. Over time, stains will become difficult or impossible to remove – especially stains like tea, wine, or blood.
3. Ripples – a worn carpet will start to show signs of rippling and wrinkling, especially in main walkways and on steps. This is the result of typical wear and tear from years of foot traffic. If ripples or wrinkles happen to appear after a new carpet installation, however, contact your installer right away.
4. Mold or Mildew – stains like mold and mildew can be the result of water damage, humidity, or pet stains (such as urine or feces). Carpets that show signs of mold and mildew should be replaced immediately to avoid potential health hazards.

Another instance when it may be worth the investment to re-carpet your floors is if you’re getting ready to sell your home or business. Research shows that not only do sellers typically recover the carpeting cost, but they often make a profit from it. Remember, a buyer will usually choose a property that’s in move-in condition, not the one that needs updates like new carpet or paint.

So is it time for you to re-carpet? If so, visit our website to get some helpful carpet buying tips.