Saturday, February 21, 2009

Tips To Repair Water Damage And Scratches On Your Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are more popular in homes today than they have been in many years. People still like to use carpeting in some rooms sometimes, but since there has been so much new information to come to light about the unsanitary and unhealthy conditions that can come with carpeting, many homeowners are choosing hardwood floors instead.

Carpeting is nice to walk on and have a nicer feel under bare feet, but they can also hold dirt and allergens that are not that healthy for most of us. People who suffer from allergies can be severely affected by dust mites and other particles that can become embedded in them. Even frequent shampooing will not completely remove them.

Hardwood floors can be easier maintained and cleaned than carpeting too. Once they are sealed and waxed, they have a beautiful sheen that will last for years with proper cleaning. It is so much easier to sweep them or go over them with a dust mop than the need to drag out a big and bulky vacuum cleaner every time you need to clean. With the accidents from kids and pets, it is much less headache to clean a hardwood floor than carpeting.

Hardwood flooring does have a few drawbacks if you can really call them that. They can be scratched when furniture is moved across them if there are any sharp edges that come in contact with the floor. They can also get damaged by water if it is not promptly cleaned up. If your floors are sealed properly, it should not do any harm as long as the liquid is not allowed to sit on it for a long period of time.

If you do get scratches or water stains on your hardwood floors, you might be able to repair them yourself if you follow simple directions. You should use a good quality masking tape used by painters to mark around the affected area. Remove any wax. Use a rubber sanding block to remove the finish and scratches. Use smooth even strokes. To remove stains you mix oxalic acid and about a cup of water to wash the stain. Allow it to dry and repeat if necessary until the stain is gone.

When you refinish the cleaned area, make sure the stain you use is the exact one on the rest of your floor. Apply the same polyurethane that was originally used. IF you do this process correctly, the area you repaired should blend in well with the rest of the floor. If you are not good with small home repairs, you could always hire someone to repair the floor for you, but it is not that difficult if you take your time and follow the steps.

About the Author

Aydan Corkern is a writer of many topics, visit some of her sites, like document drying and water damage florida.

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