How To Protect The Beauty Of Laminate Or Vinyl “Hardwood” Floors

Even though laminate and vinyl flooring is very durable and retains its beauty well under a great deal of use, there is some maintenance that must be performed. In order to retain the beautiful look of hardwood, floor coverings of all types will need some type of care in order to prevent damages and to retain their original condition. 

The amount of maintenance necessary can often be determined by the following factors:

·         the amount of traffic on the floor

·         the type of traffic that the flooring is exposed to

·         the color of the flooring

·         the type of flooring

Even Top Quality Floor Materials Require Some Maintenance

Too often, homeowners believe that their top-of-the-line flooring doesn’t need any particular care. For example, Engage floors and Konecto flooring can be highly resistant to stains, wear and tear, and other damages, with a little bit of preventative care and routine maintenance. A little maintenance can help these high quality flooring brands can live up to their greatest potential. Consider implementing the following protective, maintenance steps into your routine.

1. Provide extra attention to solid, light, or white colored flooring.

These colors typically show off any scuffs from normal wear more easily than other colors or patterns. In the same manner, scratches, worn areas, and stains will also show up more than on other flooring color choices.  As you approach the next steps of preventative maintenance, remember to provide particular attention to lighter-colored floors.

2. Protect your flooring from furniture legs and buttons, etc.

Heavy couches, tables, and entertainment centers can leave dents, scratches, or tears in your laminate or vinyl floor. In order to prevent these damages, use flat, non-staining cups under the legs of furniture and any appliances. Any rolling chairs should be fitted with casters. By distributing the weight of the furniture and legs on a broader surface, you can prevent many damages from destroying the beauty and strength of your floor.

3. Recognize the harmful effects of dirt and tracked-in grit.

Imagine the damage that would happen to your floor if you wore shoes with sandpaper on the soles. No homeowner would purposely harm their floor this way, yet everyday people walk onto their floors with the same type of grit stuck to the bottom of their shoes. It is easy enough to prevent the wear and tear that occurs when you or your family walks into the home from outside; placing floor mats at the entrances of your home will often allow you to trap the grains of dirt and other grit before it can damage your floor. This is a particularly good piece of advice for owners of QuickStep floors that look like beautiful hardwoods.

4. Clean up spills immediately.

Both of the floor systems previously mentioned will resist stains very well. However, it is always good to develop the habit of cleaning up spills immediately. As staining materials are left, there is a greater potential for the color to soak into the floor, leaving a permanent stain. Treat other dirt and debris with the same persistence. Daily sweeping and regular mopping will go a long way toward keeping your floor looking its best.

When you have chosen a beautiful floor for your home, you want to protect that high quality appearance. By providing routine maintenance, you can enjoy the look of hardwood with the convenience of laminate or vinyl for many years.