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Adding a Little Spring Décor

With the long harsh winter nearly over, I am excited about the wonders of spring. I can’t wait to unpack my spring wardrobe from storage. I’m also looking forward to spending some time outdoors in my flower garden. However, before I venture outdoors, I need to give the inside of my home some attention by adding a little spring décor. During this time of year, I decorate my home with pastel, bright hues. For instance, I like to fill white dainty teacups with beautiful artificial flowers. I also like to display whimsical items such as a multicolored Easter bunny. On this blog, you will learn how to transform the interior of your home this spring.

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Adding a Little Spring Décor

Caring For Your Hardwood Floor

by Melinda Collins

Hardwood floors are beautiful and durable, but they require very specific care. In order to maintain their attractive appearance, as well as help them last as long as possible, you will need to clean, maintain, and refinish them as needed.

Cleaning

In order to clean your hardwood floors properly, should clean them in a specific way. For light, daily cleaning, dust your floor with a mop that's been treated with a dusting agent. One day each week, after you've dusted with your floor with a mop, vacuum it using a floor-brush attachment.

For deeper cleaning once or twice a year, use a commercial wood-cleaning product and take the following steps:

  • Mix together a commercial wood-cleaning product and a bucket of warm water, according to the directions on the product
  • Wet a sponge or rag mop in water, and then wring it until it's only slightly damp.
  • Mop your floor, while taking care not to leave any standing water. Some products also have to be rinsed with a cleaned, dampened mop.
  • Make sure to wipe up excess liquid so it doesn't damage your floor.
  • If the weather is humid, run the air conditioning or a ceiling fan to make drying quicker.

Maintenance

Protecting your floor takes just a little effort and can help maintain its finish and minimize scuffs, scratches, and gouges.

  • Use mats inside and outside of doors that lead to the outside of your home.
  • Don't use mats that have rubber or foam backing, since they can discolor your floor.
  • Add rugs to areas where children play a lot, so their toys don't scratch the floor.
  • Blot up spills with a soft cloth as soon as they happen.
  • Use floor protectors under furniture so they don't leave marks.
  • Don't slide furniture across your floor – instead, pick the item up or use a dolly.
  • Keep your pets' nails trimmed.
  • Make sure your home isn't too humid. Use an air conditioner if needed in summer, and add a dehumidifier if necessary.
  • Don't wear high heels inside, since they can cause indentations.

Refinishing

Refinishing can be an involved process, so if you're not comfortable with it you may want to pop over to this web-site and consider hiring a professional to refinish your hardwood floors for you. This is especially true if you will have to use tools for your refinishing project that you're not very familiar with.

Not all hardwood floors should be refinished. Some newer flooring is only 1/4-inch thick and has a laminate coating. If you try to sand and refinish this type of floor, it can cause extensive damage, rather than preservation, which is the goal of refinishing. If your floor is less than 3/4-inch thick, you may want to call in a flooring professional so you don't wear away too much of the surface. If your floor is thicker and has deep scratches, warping, or stains, refinishing can help restore its beauty.

There are two ways to refinish

  1.      Traditional refinishing

This method can take several days to allow for thorough drying.

  • First, use a sander to remove deep scratches and stains and to help level areas that have warped.
  • Then, use an industrial-strength vacuum cleaner to remove all the particles left after sanding.
  • Apply a stain if desired.
  • Apply a sealer.

     2.        Sandless refinishing

This method takes about a day, but it's not recommended for floors that have a great deal of damage.

  • Scuff your floor lightly using an abrasive pad and liquid etcher.
  • Apply an etching chemical to the surface of the floor.
  • Damp mop the floor.
  • Repair any minor damage.
  • Apply a new polyurethane top coat.

With proper care, your hardwood floor should be attractive for years to come. If you're in doubt about any products or methods used, contact hardwood flooring professionals on tips, tricks and advice on how to keep your floors looking great. 

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