How To Clean And Maintain A Parquet Floor

Cleaning parquet flooring tips If you own a beautiful parquet flooring you are truly a lucky one! To enjoy it for decades, help your flooring look in perfect condition, and guarantee enough protection and preservation of the initial perfect condition, a proper, regular and thorough cleaning and maintenance routine is essential. The good news is that keeping your parquet pattern in top-notch condition does not require too much elbow grease, energy, money or time. Professional help might be needed now and then but the future of your wooden floor is generally in your own hands.

A favourite feature in many homes and commercial premises and possession of proud owners, parquet flooring is a piece of art that offers a lot of functionality, durability and style at the same time. A well-maintained wood floor always pays off with outstanding and impressive aesthetics. On another hand, a neglected one could quickly start struggling with wear and tear, a dull, tired and sad appearance, and what is even worse – imperfections determining a poor condition. However, it is important to mention that the geometric arrangement of the wooden blocks still requires a bit more attention to detail compared to all the other real wood flooring options. This guide provides you with a comprehensive and helpful overview of how to take parquet floor maintenance and care for their upkeep.

Parquet Floor Cleaning

A good and recommended professional parquet floor cleaning routine involves short yet thorough and proper rounds of a quick clean regularly. Leaving the dirt and dust to build up is certainly a more intimidating task. In addition to the latter, dirt and dust buildups increase the risk of very stubborn or even permanent imperfections. This is a risk, that you don’t want to take, especially considering how simple and quick all the steps of the cleaning process are. First, you should start with a thorough vacuum across the room. As an alternative method, you can use a broom, but always pick one with softer bristles. It is highly recommended to invest in a vacuum machine with an additional attachment or mode for hard surfaces such as wooden floors. All this will help you make sure that you are not leaving tiny scratches on the finish while cleaning the surface. Although tiny and fine at first, when these scratches and dents build up they affect the appearance of the floor significantly. Regular vacuuming (2-3 times a week, or even more often if needed) will prevent dirt and dust from becoming embedded in between the floor’s wooden blocks.

Cleaning parquet flooring with a mop More stubborn dust, dirt and grime are easily removed with the help of a mop. Your main priority, in this case, is to make sure that your mop (or soft cloth) is slightly damp and never wet. An excessive amount of water or liquids can easily leave damage such as water stains or swelling. If water is not enough to get rid of the dirt and stains, you can use a cleaning product dissolved. Make sure you are using a cleaner designed for wood especially. These products are milder, not abrasive and contain a neutral pH that does not hold a risk for the finish of the floor.

When using an off-the-shelf cleaning product, always make sure to follow the instructions on the label. It is recommended to try and test the product on a small and hidden area first and then proceed with treating the whole surface. Store-bought products often contain nutrients and additives that provide wood with the additional benefit of a fresh and polished look and a fresh fragrance.

Next, to the store-bought products, you can also use simple ones that you have around the house for cleaning parquet flooring. A humble mixture of half a cup of white vinegar and four to five litres of warm water will do the trick too. To achieve the polished and shiny look for your floor that the off-the-shelf products offer, you can mix a couple of drops of essential oil into the mix. It will not only improve the floor visually but also nourish the wood and provide it with a pleasant smell. If you prefer a wake-up atmosphere, orange is a great choice. Do you need to relax after a long busy day? In this case, lavender is exactly what you should go for!

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Parquet repairing is certainly a time- and money-consuming process that often involves a lot of hassle and disruption. In this case, we suggest prevention rather than cure, so here are a few simple tips for avoiding unwanted floor damage:

Place doormats and rugs strategically on the front door of your home and around the house. It might sound like a poor decision, but a few rugs can go a long way by preventing scratches, dents and dirt buildups in high-traffic areas.
Whenever you are relocating furniture pieces, remember that you don’t want to drag them across the floor. Lift them instead. If you would like to ensure even better prevention from dents and scratches, you can invest in caps and pads that you attach to the feet and under heavier furniture pieces.
Make sure to keep your pets` nails trimmed to prevent scratches.
Always remove spills and splashes immediately. This will reduce the risk of permanent and water stains.
In case there is a moister, place a napkin or an old cotton T-shirt over the mark and carefully use an iron or a hairdryer to dry it out.

Finally, whenever you are in doubt about how to take care of your beloved parquet floor, make sure to consult with an experienced professional! Do not attempt any suspicious DIY ideas and tips you stumble upon when browsing online. Make sure to discuss the approach with an expert first.