The only person you might hurt in the process of not cleaning your hardwood floors is yourself. This is because, as sturdy as hardwood floors are, they can take a beating and trap a lot of things that can damage it unless you clean it regularly. Cleaning methods will vary a lot based on how your floor was finished, and it’s crucial to know the major differences between some of the more common finishes. In this guide, we’ll give you some cleaning tips for oil and aluminum oxide flooring, so you always know what to do.
Major Differences Between Oil and Aluminum Oxide
Both oil coatings and aluminum oxide finishes can help your hardwood floors last much longer than normal, as long as you make sure to take care of them when they really need it. One of the biggest differences between an oil-coated floor and one with an aluminum oxide finish is how you repair damage done to it. Oil-coated floors are the simpler option to repair, as you only really need to apply more oil to the affected areas to fill in scratches and damage. Aluminum oxide coatings, on the other hand, require a completely new coat over the entire floor if you want to fix damage. This might seem like more of a hassle, but aluminum oxide is more resilient in the long run and tends to need fewer touch-ups.
Tips for Cleaning Oil-Finished Floors
Oil finishes actually soak into the wood itself, which helps to keep the wood strong and resilient over time. However, it isn’t indestructible, and regular cleaning is a must if you want your flooring to last a long time. Mostly, you just need to stay on top of vacuuming to keep dust and dirt from doing any damage. You’ll also want to dilute an oil refresher into some water and mop with the solution to fill in any small bits of damage.
Tips for Cleaning Flooring Finished With Aluminum Oxide
A floor with an aluminum oxide coating also needs regular dusting or vacuuming to remove dirt and small debris. Certain cleaners are approved for use with aluminum oxide coatings, but not all cleaners are. Ammonia or vinegar-based solutions can do serious damage to your floor’s finish. You’ll want to stick to a cleaner that has a neutral pH level so that nothing can eat through the aluminum oxide.
Using these cleaning tips for oil and aluminum oxide flooring will help them look their best and keep them in the best condition possible to prevent damage from getting out of control. The high-quality prefinished hardwood flooring for sale here at Hardwoods4less is sure to last you a long time, and even more so with proper care and cleaning.