Tell me, human | What is the best way to clean wooden floors without damaging them?

Question of the week: what is the best way to clean wooden floors without damaging them? Response from our expert François Brodeur, owner of Bois Franc Rive-Sud.

This is a recurring question that customers ask themselves even before purchasing wooden flooring, concedes François Brodeur. As it is a good investment in the house, their main wish is that the floor lasts over time.

You must first know the habits to avoid, according to our expert. “Hardwood is a material that is allergic to too much water, so it is really important to never wash a floor with lots of water. »

In recent years, many people have purchased steam mops to clean their wooden floors. “It’s a rush of hot air. Finally, we push water inside a floor, particularly between the slats, and it will cause the material to swell,” explains François Brodeur who strongly advises against their use. “It can even possibly cause the varnish to crack,” he adds.

Grandma’s recipe for mixing water and vinegar should also be avoided. The acidic body will deteriorate the varnish, indicates the expert. The last thing he advises against is applying wax to the wooden floor: “We will contaminate our floor, then we will no longer even be able to sand and varnish it. »

So how should you maintain a wooden floor?

Vacuuming should be done regularly. The dust on the surface contains a little sand which will scratch the floor when walking.

“We then wash our floor, once a week or every two weeks, depending on how we use it,” advises the owner of Bois Franc Rive-Sud.

If you have a varnished floor, you use a specific product that can be sprayed on the floor. “These products are degreasing agents, they leave no film or residue on the floor. » We then use a mop with a microfiber cover to do a dry wash. If you absolutely want to make a homemade recipe, you can use a little dish soap and water. You should keep in mind that you should not put too much water on the wood.

Is our floor oiled? We turn to our manufacturer to have the right specialized product. “These floors also require a polishing operation every 5 to 10 years,” adds François Brodeur.

We should also install felt under the legs of our chairs and furniture. “What’s really important is to change them at least twice a year,” says our expert. The dust accumulated under the markers can actually leave marks on the floor. We also don’t forget to cut the claws of our pets which are also a source of scratches.

Our floor is old and needs more than cleaning? We avoid repair kits which can amplify the problem for varnished floors. It’s probably time to sand and refinish our floor, an operation that is done every 15 to 20 years, says our expert.