
While you’re likely to leave the cleaning of your office to a contractor, it’s important that you have a decent grasp of what should be done – especially if you have (or plan to install) a wooden floor. This is because floors like this are a significant investment and, although they are not necessarily difficult to keep looking good, they do require specific care.
I’ve put together some brief guidance on making sure wooden floors in commercial spaces looking their best – I hope it’s useful!
Start off on the right foot
If you haven’t yet bought your wooden floor, you have the chance to minimise the amount of care it’ll need from the get-go. You can do this by picking one with a modern finish, as these are typically the easiest to maintain.
Lacquered wood floors, whose coating sits on top of the floor and protects it, are generally the simplest to maintain in the short term. Oiled finishes, however, can be the best choice for long-term wear, which I think makes them particularly good for businesses.
So, what’s the difference? Well, oil will go deeper into the wood than lacquer, penetrating the cell structure, giving it a greater level of protection. This means that should any damage occur, it is easier to replace and to add in fresh areas of flooring that have a similar look – this means they will be a decent match for the current floor and avoid you having to replace the whole thing. You take a look at both types of finish at the Solid Wood Flooring Company.
Keep moisture at bay
Moisture is an enemy of wood – while having too little moisture is also a problem. You see, excessive amounts of moisture makes wood swell and, once this happens, it will
not return to its previous form. In particularly dry atmospheres, the wood will shrink, and the effect will be similarly permanent.
This makes limiting the amount of moisture used when cleaning absolutely essential. The good news is that day-to-day care can be carried out by just sweeping or vacuuming. But, as office floors will generally see a lot more footfall than their domestic counterparts, you’re bound to find more intense cleaning is needed on a fairly regular basis.
Choose the right cleaning products
So, how can you get a deeper clean without using too much moisture? Well, the key is in selecting suitable products – as well as using the right technique.
First of all, it’s vital you pick a specialist cleaning solution designed for wood floors, as well as the specific finish yours has. You can get kits that come complete with both solutions and pastes to achieve the best clean and overall result, which are well worth investing in – especially if you regularly receive clients in your office – since they will ensure a decent finish.
The exact process to be used will vary depending on the type of floor you have, but generally speaking you’ll need to begin by sweeping up any loose debris and then applying the diluted solution sparingly with a damp mop. After leaving this to dry, the next step is to apply the provided paste with a lint-free cloth – again making sure just a little is used,
unless you want to end up with an unpleasant sticky floor! – and take care that no moisture goes near the floor for 48 hours afterwards.