Keeping your engineered wood floors in good shape is simple. But maintenance must be sustained. Read our guide to cleaning your engineered wood floors. Skip to “Looking after your floors”
If you are undecided about the type of flooring you want, we’ll make it easier for you to choose. Engineered wood floors offer numerous benefits. To list just a few:
Engineered wood floors do expand and contract but to a much lesser extent than solid wood floors. The construction process at Wood Flooring Ireland is to install engineered wood flooring in both dry and moist areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
In days gone by, engineered wood floors were never mistaken for solid wood flooring. However, the industry has progressed to the extent that engineered flooring looks and feels 100% authentic. We build the flooring from many layers of plywood, but the top layer is a solid wood lamella of your choice, such as Oak. When we discuss how to clean engineered wood floors, the top layer is the most critical consideration.
Our engineered flooring is rugged and durable because of our layering process, which is designed to handle greater than normal foot traffic. We bond many layers of plywood together before applying the top layer of solid wood. Do you think you’ll need your floor for a whole century? Yes, engineered wood flooring can last that long! Check the Janka score of the lamella you want to use for your top layer. It specifies the hardness factor of the wood.
One of the advantages of engineered wood flooring is that the dust and debris rest on the floor. As a result, cleaning wood floors is easy. It is preferable to contend with dust on your engineered wood floor than to deal with it deep inside the carpeting. Unless you neglect your flooring entirely, you will not have to struggle with difficulty removing ground-in dirt. Sweep or vacuum, then wash, and you’ll keep your home free of excessive dust and allergens.
At Wood Flooring Ireland, we stock a wide range of flooring options to suit every room in your home. Visually appealing engineered wood flooring designs are available in a variety of colours (dark, medium, light..) and styles. Cleaning and maintenance are required for all styles of engineered wood flooring.
Plank Flooring
Chevron Flooring
Herringbone Flooring
The good news is that keeping your engineered wood floors in good shape is simple. But maintenance must be sustained. Let’s take a look at what it means to maintain your wood floors.
Although our homes are where we live, dine, rest, and often work, it’s a good idea to be mindful of potential mishaps. You wouldn’t let your guard down on any valuable items in your home, and this should include your flooring. Avoid moving furniture across a wood floor without providing protection, such as felt padding. Be cautious about which toys are permitted in rooms with wood flooring. Metal cans and other objects should not be moved along the floor. In general, you’d be wise to lift and carry anything that needs to be moved in a room with engineered wood floors.
Vacuum your wood floors every day if the machine’s brushes can be held in an upward position, as in a bare floor setting. Dust can also be thoroughly removed with a broom. Regular sweeping is one of the best ways to keep engineered wood floors clean.
Lacquers and oils are finishes that protect the top layer of your engineered wood floors. Lacquers add a layer to your flooring, making it more resistant to liquid spills. Oil finishes penetrate deeper into the floor, protecting the layers beneath. You can also use oils to cover up scratches, eliminating the need to repair them.
It is easier to clean your floors when you take good care of them from day to day. Daily sweeping or vacuuming and proper floor care is the easiest way to clean wood floors. It will keep your floors in good condition, but there will be occasions when a thorough cleaning is necessary. Let’s look at some of the best ways.
A mop, like a broom, is your engineered wood floor’s best friend. Keep it slightly damp. It should not be drenched. Engineered wood floors are more resistant to moisture than solid wood floors, but the lamella is natural wood, which can warp when wet. Microfibre mops are non-abrasive and work well on engineered wood floors. Alternatively, use mops with washable microfibre pads or disposable pads.
Many floor cleaners have been approved for use with wooden floors. It is essential also to make sure that the cleaner works with the finishing on your floor. Strictly follow the cleaner instructions. This is the best way to make wood floors look new again.
You may find it necessary to rinse your floors after washing them with a cleaner. Check for cleaner residue, which may be more visible on flooring with a shiny finish. Rinse with a clean mop and water to remove any residue.
There is no getting away from it. Floors become dirty. Although frequent sweeping and washing will keep dirt from becoming embedded in your floors, you may require a deeper cleaning occasionally. At Wood Flooring Ireland, we can advise you on the best floor cleaner to use when you need a more vigorous cleaning. Use the same method you use for lighter mopping. Wash the floors once with the more powerful cleaner, then rinse with a clean mop. Depending on which wood you choose for your top layer, we can recommend how often you should deep clean. A good rule of thumb is every 4 – 6 weeks.
Your flooring isn’t so fragile that you should be afraid to use it. However, when you start to learn how to clean engineered wood floors, be aware of a few limitations:
Often, it is the lesser-known tips that will provide a solution to your issue. We’ll take a look at a few ideas that might be just what you need to keep your flooring looking great:
At Wood Flooring Ireland, we have been listening to our customers for more than 15 years. We advise, but mostly, we hear what it is that you want. Together, as a team, we’ll design your bespoke flooring, built to endure and enhance your home’s décor. Call into our Cork showrooms, and we’ll show you how we use some of the best forests in the world to craft high-quality flooring. Contact us by phone or email, and let’s talk.
Wood Flooring Ireland writes plenty of blogs and guides for our existing and potential customers. You can find helpful insights to help you make your wood flooring buying decisions, wood floor care tips, the differences between engineered and solid wood flooring and much more.