Parquet flooring is stylish and warm, making any home beautiful. The intricately designed patterns come from small, wooden blocks joined together during parquet flooring installation, making the flooring so attractive on the floors. However, you need to give it proper care and attention to keep it for a long time. In this guide, we will discuss crucial tips that will help you keep your parquet flooring looking fresh for years.
What is Parquet Flooring?
Let's begin with the maintenance of parquet flooring, but first, what is it? It is a flooring created using wooden blocks, which match to create lovely patterns like herringbone, chevron, or basket weave. Parquet flooring adds sophistication to living areas, bedrooms, and hallways.
Since the parquet is made of the actual wood, it needs care in order not to incur scratches, dullness, or warping. Whether you are installing parquet flooring for the first time or you have had this for quite some time, do not miss these suggestions for your floor to stay robust and beautiful.
1. Regular Cleaning to Protect Your Floors
The easiest way to take care of parquet flooring is by cleaning. Dust and dirt may scratch the wood's surface; thus, cleaning should be indispensable.
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Sweep with a soft-bristle broom: A soft-bristle broom will not scratch the wood.
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Vacuum frequently: Be certain that the vacuum has a special setting for hardwood floors or use a soft attachment to avoid causing damage to the wood.
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Mop carefully: Use little water at a time, since too much water is damaging to the wooden floor. It is sufficient to clean the floor using a damp mop or cloth.
Dust and dirt on these floors will not damage your parquet flooring in SG if the scheduled cleaning is regularly performed.
2. Protect Your Floors from Furniture and Heavy Objects
Furniture can cause deep scratches or dents when pulled across the floor without care. Some simple ways to protect your parquet flooring from heavy items include the following.
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Attach felt pads under furniture legs: >Attach felt pads under chairs, tables, and other furniture to prevent them from scratching the floor.
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Lift heavy furniture: You should lift your heavy furniture in case you want to relocate it instead of dragging it on the floor.
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Utilise space rugs: Position them under your furniture to provide that extra layer of protection for your floor while at the same time giving your space a style.
By conducting these minor tasks, you would keep your parquet floor smooth and void of marks.
3. Control Humidity
Air moisture may be too much it is hard for wood to be undisrupted. Dry humidness may make the parquet crack or have holes. The constant humid condition helps keep such problems from occurring.
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Run a dehumidifier in humid weather: Which will help ensure the floors are dry so that they form from warping.
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Use a humidifier in dry months: The humidifier maintains water molecules in the air during winter such that the parquet does not crack.
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Maintaining balanced humidity: This is assured with the moisture of the air between 40% and 60%. This can be achieved using a simple tool referred to as a hygrometer.
Balanced humidity will ensure your parquet lasts all year round.
4. Refinish Your Floors When Necessary
While a parquet floor is very hard-wearing, it does lose its shine after everyday wear. While cleanliness and care will help to prevent wear, your floor may become dull after a few years, and it is a good time to refinish it so that it looks like new again.
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Look for signs of wear: If your flooring is looking dull or worse still, has scratches and discolourations, it is probably on the verge of needing refinishing.
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Refinish the surface: This is done by sanding out the floor to smoothen out any marks left by scratches then applying new finishes to give it a glow like it was when it was first installed.
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Select Finish: There exist several varieties of finishes: oil-based, water-based and wax. You should ask an expert about which best suits your flooring type.
Refinish your parquet floor whenever necessary to give it a perfect look and extend its life .
<5. Do not apply harsh chemicals
Inappropriate cleaning agents may cause significant damage to your parquet flooring. Harsh chemicals can strip off the finish coat or even disintegrate the wood from the inside; therefore, thorough cleaning is needed.
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Always use wood-friendly products: Cleaning agents exclusively made for wooden floors are always soft on the flooring's surface.
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Avoid cleaners containing ammonia: Ammonia and other chemicals may result in permanent damage, so it's always best to use mild, pH-balanced cleaners.
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Try homemade cleaners: You may also prepare a soft cleaner by simply mixing a little vinegar with water, though be sure that you're not adding too much water.
Keeping an eye on what you apply to the parquet floor will save the finish and keep it shining for years to come.
6. Protect Your Floors from Sunlight
Sun damage can cause fading or colour changes in your parquet flooring. This, however, can be prevented by simple measures since your floor is open to direct sun through large windows in most cases.
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Drape or close curtains: Close your curtains or blinds at peak sun hours by blocking sun rays.
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Use UV-blocking window film: Apply a UV window film to block harmful rays for perfect lighting of sunbeams.
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Move furniture and rugs: It prevents any one spot on the floor from fading unevenly.
Reducing sun exposure will preserve colour and longevity of parquet flooring.
7. Time to Clean Spills
Parquet flooring is not waterproof, so you have to clean up spills right away. If you allow liquids to stay there, they can cause stains, swelling, or other damage.
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Blot immediately spilling liquids: If you spill something then use a soft cloth to soak up the liquid as soon as it spills.
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Use mats in spilling spots: Put mats near the sink, bathroom, or other places where you think lots of spilling will occur.
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Ask people to remove wet shoes at the door: Water can kill your flooring, so always ask your guests to take off their wet shoes at the door.
Catching spills right away and putting protective mats will prevent water damage and stains on your parquet floors.
Conclusion
Maintaining your parquet flooring requires a little effort, but so it is worthwhile. Cleaning the floor regularly, protecting it from furniture, making sure there is control of the humidity, refinishing when necessary, using gentle cleaners, reducing exposure to direct sunlight, and catching spills right away help keep your parquet floors beautiful for years. Whether you are installing new parquet flooring or replacing your existing one, the following tips will keep your floors in pristine condition. You can also get more information on parquet flooring in SG for the right floor for your home by consulting these tips.
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