Wood floors of any variety are beautiful. This is why it’s a very popular choice among homeowners. While a lot of homeowners go for the finished variety, more and more homeowners are considering unfinished wood floors.
It’s easy to see why this is the case. This variety has a certain appeal to it. People are going for it because it adds a rustic appeal to a home. It’s also more natural-looking, and that is certainly appealing to a lot of people.
However, there’s a thin line between rustic and downright ugly. Rustic is beautiful. But if you leave an unfinished wood floor uncleaned, then it will turn from rustic to ugly really quick.
Remove Dust and Dirt Regularly
It can be quite a chore to remove dust and regularly, but it will actually make things easier for you down the line. This is proper maintenance so you can avoid more problems in the future. If you remove dust and dirt regularly, then you can have clean floors at all times. It also won’t accumulate dust and dirt which will be harder to remove later on. Best of all, you can lengthen the life span of your floor.
It’s actually very easy. You just need to use a broom and a dustpan to sweep the flooring. Do this at least twice a week and dust and dirt won’t get a chance to accumulate.
Alternatively, you can also use a vacuum cleaner with the attachment designed for wood floors. This is helpful for those hard to reach areas like underneath furniture.
Using Commercial Cleaning Products
A lot of homeowners have been using Murphy’s Oil to great success. However, it’s listed on the product’s website that it’s not recommended for use on an unfinished wood floor. You can still try to use it. Just make sure that you try it first on a small and inconspicuous area to see if it will damage your flooring.
You can also try Orange Glo. A lot of homeowners have been using this but again, try it first on a small and inconspicuous area.
A Better Option
You can actually use mineral spirits. They’re very effective as a cleaning agent. They’re a good option because they’re an all-around cleaner and have been proven safe for use on unfinished wood floors. This is mainly because they don’t contain harsh chemicals. Just use a clean white rug to clean your flooring with mineral spirit and you should be good to go. A lot of homeowners have used this as a last resort to great success.
Just like with other cleaning agents, just make sure that you don’t leave any traces of the mineral spirit on your flooring. That’s going to leave a mark.
How to Clean Spills
This is basic knowledge. You have to clean spills as soon as possible so that they won’t stain. You can use a clean white rag and water to wash the floor. Use another clean white rag to dry the floor. Make sure that you don’t leave any moisture because moisture will leave a mark.
What to Do with Stains
One of the reasons why you chose an unfinished hardwood floor is because of its rustic appeal. This means that stains shouldn’t be a problem. It adds to its appeal. This means that instead of spending time, effort and money on stain removal, you can consider a stain as an addition to your floor’s appeal.
However if for some reason you decide that you want to take a specific stain out, you can simply sand it out. This is actually a good way to add another level of rustic appeal. Just make sure not to sand it too hard because that might damage the overall appearance of the floor.
You can also use trisodium phosphate. Apply a small amount on the stain and then use a small non-abrasive brush in order to help the trisodium phosphate do its work.
Additional Tips
Here are some more tips to follow to ensure success:
- Make sure to check if a cleaning product can be used on an unfinished floor. A lot of cleaning products that work for hard wood floors are only recommended for finished wood and not unfinished ones.
- Know if your floor is indeed unfinished. There are some floors that look unfinished even if they’re really finished. It’s very simple to check. Just place a drop of water on the floor. You have a finished floor is the water is repelled and forms into a small droplet. If the water is absorbed by the floor, then it’s unfinished.
- Use area rugs. This can help provide additional protection. This is very helpful on high traffic areas.
Should You Hire a Contractor?
In most cases, you don’t need to hire a contractor to clean your unfinished wood flooring. You can do so by following the steps and tips above. After all, bulk of the job is simply sweeping. But if you don’t have the time, then you can go ahead and do so. This is especially true if you see a lot of stains and you’re not confident that you can take care of them without damaging the flooring.
Feel free to consult a contractor for the best course of action if you’re in doubt.