Feb 23rd 2009 How to Take Care of your Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring
Installing a new floor in your home is a significant investment, and proper bamboo floor care is imperative to ensure it lasts a long time and continues to look great. Below are a few important things to remember about bamboo flooring maintenance and cleaning.
Cleaning your bamboo floor is very important and you this should be done as much as possible. This prevents items from sticking to the floor, and eventually leading to scratches and dents.
How to clean bamboo floors:
For a basic cleaning, use a soft bristled broom, and preferable one that is only used for your bamboo flooring (and not in the kitchen, garage, etc). A vacuum can also be used, but use it with care, or you could end up scratching or denting the hardwood. Your floor should also be mopped from time to time, once every two weeks is usually enough, depending on the amount of traffic it receives. Microfibor floor mops are the best for removing dirt. The best cleaning solutions are ones that are specific to bamboo floors, such as Ambient´s bamboo floor cleaner. They are often environmentally friendly, and are designed specifically for bamboo floors. These cleaners are usually used by spraying them on the floor, then mopping up the moisture. Refrain from using any ammonia based cleaners, or any cleaners that contain strong chemicals. If you spill something on the floor, it is important to clean it up immediately. This will prevent any moisture from permanently damaging the wood, and from possible staining the flooring. Bamboo floors should never be waxed, and will result in damage to the floor if done so.
Some things to remember about bamboo flooring maintenance:
Now that you have a bamboo floor, you should consider monitoring the humidity levels in your house. These levels should never be below 30% or above 60% for extended periods of time. It could cause the bamboo to swell, shrink, or eventually crack. You may have to consider installing a humidifier/dehumidifier, to prevent this from happening.
To help prevent damage to your flooring, place mats and rugs in areas that are used the most. Check the bottom of the mats and rugs you are using to make sure they do not have rubber bottoms, and to make sure there are not pieces that could scratch the floor. Also, it is important that the rugs are colorfast, meaning their color will not leak out. If they are small mats, it is wise to wash them first to help remove any dies that may end up leaking onto the floor. Make sure to keep all mats and rugs clean as much as possible. This helps prevent any dirt buildup from ending up on your nice, beautiful flooring, which can lead to damage.
Last of all, be careful of your pets claws. Make sure they are trimmed regularly, as they can scratch the finish of the bamboo flooring. All furniture should use protective pads to prevent any possible scratching. People should refrain from walking around in spiky high heels, which can also damage the flooring.
Like any piece of furniture, you have to take care of your strand woven bamboo flooring to keep it looking great. By following these simple guidelines, you should have no problem keeping it looking as beautiful as the day that it was installed.
1 Comment » Posted by admin / Cleaning and Maintaining