Parquet Floor Cleaning - Care and Maintenance
Parquet flooring maintenance is important to keep this type of wood flooring looking beautiful. While parquet flooring has been around for a very long time, and is often found in older homes, the new methods of manufacturing this product require additional know-how for cleaning and maintaining.
Parquet used to be pieced together, each piece of wood installed one-by-one. Today parquet flooring can come as laminate tiles (which are not wood), or as a type of engineered wood floor, where only the top of the tile is solid wood.
Cleaning Parquet Flooring
To clean parquet flooring, it is important to know which type of finish is on the surface. From there you can determine what products are safe and effective to maintain the look of the parquet floor.
Removing the dirt and dust on a regular basis is important, and should be done frequently, even daily in high traffic areas.
Cleaning the dust-free floor can be done with a damp mop, and with or without an approved cleaner for your type of floor.
Maintaining Parquet Flooring
Proper parquet flooring maintenance will extend the life and the time between refinishing the surface itself.
When scratches occur, there are products available that look like markers that can touch up the spot.
Polyurethane parquet floors require a non-abrasive liquid cleaner on a soft cloth to remove stains. If removing a scuff mark, follow the directions to ensure the proper scuff pad is used then apply the no-wax finish recommended by the manufacturer.
For non-polyurethane parquet floors you will need to rub a paste wax onto the scuff and let it dry; then buff with a soft cloth.
Repairing any damage to the wood as soon as possible will help extend the life of the floor.
Parquet Floor Maintenance Do's
Sweep and use a damp mop regularly to keep the surface of your parquet floor clean and dry. Be sure to clean up any spills immediately to avoid damage to the wood or joints.
Be aware of the type of finish on your floor and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding any cleaning products that are safe.
Use mats in doorways and area rugs for high traffic areas to avoid uneven wear on the floor, and move the carpets frequently to avoid leaving marks on the floor.
When moving furniture, always lift it, never drag or this will result in scratches or gouges in the wood.
Use curtains and blinds to protect parquet flooring from direct sunlight as this can fade the beautiful finish.
Parquet Floor Maintenance Don’ts
Never flood the floor when washing as this can damage the wood and cause warping or joint damage.
Never use harsh cleaners on the floor as this can not only damage the finish but also discolour the wood underneath.
Never wax a no-wax floor.
Never refinish parquet flooring with a traditional flooring sander as the wood grains run in all different directions. Refinishing a parquet floor requires extra care and time to do it correctly.
Parquet flooring is a popular, traditional and beautiful flooring option, and when cleaned and maintained correctly, it can last as long as any other wood floor.
Please remember the above is just a guide and you should seek professional advice.
