Treating the parquet during daily cleaning is essential to keep it beautiful and lasting over time. Very little is enough to ruin it, especially with wrong habits.
Those who have parquet in the house know: it is a fascinating, warm, welcoming material. But also rather delicate. Every step, every drop of water, every rag pass can leave a mark. That’s why knowing the right gestures makes the difference. Some tips may seem trivial, but it is precisely in the details that the real care is hidden.
First of all, better act immediately. Have you already noticed some opaque halo or a scratch that wasn’t there before? Maybe it’s time to review the way you clean it every day. Better to do it now, before the damage become irreversible. Attentive maintenance is not only aesthetic: it is also a way to stretch the life of the floor. The eye also wants its part, of course, but the real goal is to keep the structure intact. And then, let’s face it: entering a room with a well -kept parquet has a whole other effect.
Choosing the right products for parquet makes the difference
Using any product on the parquet is like washing a silk garment with the wrong detergent. It may also seem clean, but it will be ruined quickly. The wood is alive, breathe, absorb. Something that respects its nature is needed. Neutral detergents are always the safest choice. Better still if formulated especially for wooden floors. No to products with alcohol, ammonia or bleach: aggressive, too strong, they risk drying the wood and opacifying it. The water? Yes, but little. The cloth must be alone slightly moistened. Too much water penetrates the cracks, swells the wood, deforms it. The temperature also has its weight: better to use warm water, never too hot.
And the cloth? Microfiber all life. Soft, absorbent, delicate. Avoid dragging dirt and does not scratch. If you prefer the broom, be careful of the bristles: that they are soft, otherwise they leave signs.
The good habits that protect the parquet every day
It is not enough to choose the right products: there are small daily gestures that, put together, make a big difference. Even a simple change of habit can avoid permanent damage. Very little is enough, like an extra pass with the right cloth or a humidity control at home. Sometimes it is thought that great interventions are needed, instead it is the constancy in the details that save the parquet:
- Remove the shoes as soon as you enter the house It is one of the golden rules. The soles bring sand, pebbles, dust: the parquet suffers from it.
- Use rugs in the passing areas, such as entrances or corridors. They protect and furnish.
- Clean immediately If water falls, wine or coffee: every liquid left there risks leaving stains.
- Pass the vacuum cleaner oftenusing suitable brushes: the accumulated dirty scratch.
An underestimated thing? The humidity of the environment. The parquet loves a balanced climate. Too dry it makes him crack, too humid he swells him. A humidifier or a dehumidifier, depending on the case, can make miracles.
Those who love natural remedies can add a few drops of essential oil (type Tree or lemon) to the moistened cloth. Perfumes, sanitizes and respects the wood. But without exaggerating.
Common mistakes to avoid (which everyone does at least once)
It is often thought that the more it is cleaned, the better it is. But with the parquet it is not quite so. Excessive cleaning can also become a problem.
Too much water, as already mentioned, is one of the first causes of damage. But also using the same product every day can ruin the surface, especially if it contains cerful or polishing substances: you risk the “sticky patina” effect.
Shoes with heels? Out of the parquet sworn enemies. As well as moving furniture by dragging them or using chairs without felt. It takes little to scratch in depth.
And again: pass the vacuum cleaner with the wrong bristles or use hard brooms, perhaps with sand underneath, is the fastest way to ruin a nice wooden floor.
In the end, the rule is simple: it is better to do little, but well. And observe. Each parquet tells its story: just listen to it.
Those who chose a wooden floor made a choice of taste and warmth.
Protecting it is a daily gesture, made of care, attention and respect. And, after all, also of love for your home.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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