To a single-family rental home, a hardwood floor can add beauty and value. However, if your rental home has hardwood floors, you must take particular care to maintain their condition. Regular maintenance is essential. On hardwood floors, renters can be exceedingly rough, accidentally scratching and gouging them out of ignorance.
Proper hardwood floor maintenance is one of the most effective methods for preserving the functionality and aesthetic allure of the hardwood floors in your Raleigh rental property. But it’s important to know how to maintain a hardwood floor correctly. For instance, the majority of hardwood floors include surface coatings that help safeguard the wood against liquid spills, scratches, and other types of harm. Keeping this finish intact is the greatest way to prolong the life of your floor.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Avoid using harsh or abrasive cleansers on hardwood floors, as they may damage the finish or strip away the protective sealant. Utilize gentle, safe for wood surfaces, pH-neutral, or specially formulated hardwood floor cleaners. Hardwood can be harmed by harsh cleaning products and improper cleaning methods. Experts advise using a soft microfiber mop or towel to sweep dirt and dust off the floor. Normal mops use too much water, which also has the potential to damage a hardwood floor, and vacuum cleaners can scratch the surface.
Avoid Excessive Moisture or Sunlight
It’s crucial to prevent substantial water or liquid spills since hardwood floors are readily ruined by moisture. Any spills should be cleaned up right away to stop them from harming the wood by soaking in. Instead of covering the floor in water, use a damp mop to clean it. The color of hardwood floors may also fade if they receive too much direct sunshine. Use curtains, blinds, or window coatings to filter sunlight to prevent overexposure.
Regular Cleaning and Preventative Measures
While there are numerous choices available to property owners, one of the best ways to keep their rental property looking spotless is to cooperate with the tenants to take care of the hardwood floors. You should instruct your tenant on how to maintain and sanitize the hardwood floors as one of your initial responsibilities. By educating them about proper maintenance, you may increase the hardwood’s lifespan and aesthetic appeal while simultaneously avoiding damage. Suggest to renters that they place mats or rugs in entryways and high-traffic areas to prevent grime and grit from being tracked onto hardwood floors. Consider using felt cushions or furniture coasters under the legs of furniture to prevent scratching or denting the surface when rearranging or moving items.
Periodic Maintenance
Even with regular maintenance, hardwood floors require additional care every few years or between tenants. The finish of a floor may deteriorate and gather scratches or other faults with continued use. However, if that’s all there is, you probably won’t need to refinish the floor extensively. The majority of the time, a screening, which roughens the surface of the existing finish, and a new application of finish are sufficient to restore a fading hardwood floor. Repairing and refinishing may be your only option if your hardwood floor has become severely damaged, warped, has deep scratches, or has other problems. A floor needs to be refinished, which involves time, expertise, and specific tools.
Hardwood floor maintenance doesn’t have to be tough, but it does require some extra preparation and encouragement to get your tenant involved. However, by sustaining positive tenant relations, they are more likely to assist you in maintaining the best possible condition for your priceless hardwood floor.
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Originally Published on November 29, 2019
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