Hot or cold water to wash the parquet? The answer could really surprise you: choosing the right temperature is the first step to keep the wood in shape and make it last over time.
Talk about Parquet cleaning It immediately recalls images of soft clothes, delicate detergents and maybe even that reassuring perfume that knows of the well -kept house. But there is always that question that questions every routine: it is used hot or cold water to wash the parquet? One of those issues that seem small, but in reality they hide more pitfalls than you think.
In the daily care of the house, there are habits that slip between gestures without making noise, but in the long run they really make the difference. Understand At what temperature to use the water It is one of those details that can change the fate of the floor. And if the weather is scarce, there is an easy way to start: just touch the water before immersing the rag and wondering if it is really the right one.
Hot or cold water to wash the parquet? The truth lies in the middle
We tend to think that hot water is always better: it dissolves dirt, disinfect, leave everything cleaner. But with the wood the rules change. The parquet is alivebreathe, expands and contracts. A too high temperature can stress it, leading to swelling, small cracks or that annoying opaque effect that takes brightness. The ideal temperature? Between 35 and 40 degrees. In short, lukewarm. Warm enough to dissolve the dirt without attacking the surface. Cold water, on the other hand, risks not being effective, especially if the floor needs a slightly deeper cleaning.
And then there is the theme of the quantity: use Little wateralways well squeezed, it is fundamental. The rag must not drip. Better to opt for one in microfiber or an old cotton towel: practical, absorbent and delicate.
Attention to the most common mistakes (which everyone does)
In an attempt to do well, you often end up exaggerating. Especially when you have a new parquet, the temptation to treat it with too much care can lead to some slides:
- Water too hot, in the hope of sanitizing thoroughly
- Dry buckets, which transform the floor into a swimming pool
- Fast cleaning without first spending the vacuum cleaner
- Wrong products, too aggressive or designed for other materials
The truth is that Parquet does not like excesses. Better to focus on a delicate but constant cleaning. A pass with the vacuum cleaner every day or two (using brushes with soft bristles) and a wet wash once a week are more than enough.
There are also those who entrust themselves to the steam. Strong temptation, of course. But risky. The heat combined with humidity is a mix that can compromise the wood even after a few uses. Even the washing robots, however comfortable, are not always friends of the parquet.
Practical tricks to treat the parquet as it deserves
A detail that often goes unnoticed? There Directorate of cleaning. Following the veins of the wood, instead of passing the rag to random, helps to avoid signs and maintain the uniformity of the surface.
Better still if they use neutral productswithout strong fragrances or aggressive chemical agents. Just dilute them well and not abound. The parquet does not need to be “rubbed”, but only pampered with the right products.
For the floors treated with oil or waxit is good practice to apply a protective veil every now and then. Nothing complicated, just a way to nourish the wood and make it shine without stressing it. With those painted, however, it is better to avoid the glossy waxes that are not specific: they risk creating slippery or sticky patins.
Another silent mistake? Forced drying. After washing, the ideal is to let the air do its job. Open the windows, create a little recirculation, and you’re done. Avoid hair dryer, fans or stoves aimed directly on the floor: in addition to not serving, they can do more damage than anything else.
In the end, when wondering whether to use hot or cold water to wash the parquetthe answer is not obvious. It is warm. It is careful. It is respectful of a material that, if treated in the right way, knows how to remain beautiful for many years. Even with some imperfection here and there.
Because it is precisely that naturalness that makes it so special.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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