Caring for parquet at home

More and more often, when choosing a floor covering, people began to give preference to parquet flooring. This is understandable - it not only creates a chic interior, but is also practical, comfortable, and most importantly, in addition to all other advantages, it has remarkable sound and noise insulation features. At the same time, many housewives have encountered difficulties, because caring for parquet panels is still different from caring for other floor coverings.

How can you care for parquet so that it retains its properties for as long as possible and delights its owners with its beauty?

How to care for parquet

In order for the parquet to shine like new and to prevent difficult-to-remove stains from appearing on it, as well as to preserve the varnish, it is necessary to adhere to the basic rules for the operation of such a coating.

The temperature in the room where the floor is covered with parquet should remain within 20–24 degrees, and the air humidity should not exceed 60%. If the air in the room is too dry, get a humidifier or indoor plants.
It is better to place a mat in front of the front door; this will prevent sand particles and street dirt from spreading throughout the house or apartment.
If stains appear on the flooring, remove them immediately; do not wait for the stain to “settle” firmly in the parquet board.
If you spill something on a parquet floor, wipe it dry immediately. Moisture is one of the most terrible enemies of such coating.
After removing stains from the parquet board, leave the coating to dry, and after 12 hours, cover the area with a special oil for this type of coating.
If you have cats or dogs in your home, wash their paws thoroughly after every walk.
Place silicone or felt pads under furniture legs.
Do not walk on parquet floors in street shoes; get house slippers with soft soles.
If possible, vacuum the flooring every day.
When cleaning parquet boards, do not use abrasives or hard sponges or brushes.
Do not remove stains on the floor using acetone or other aggressive solvents.
Wash the parquet floor as it becomes dirty using soft rags and brushes.
Purchase parquet care products, as well as restorative polishes and varnishes, and treat the flooring as needed.

These rules must be followed when using any type of parquet. This way you will keep the coating in good condition for a long time, and caring for parquet at home will not cause you any difficulties.

Main causes of pollution

A number of reasons have a negative impact on the condition of parquet. Ordinary dirt is absorbed into the wood, penetrates into the cracks, disrupts the structure and spoils the appearance.

Moisture

Wood absorbs moisture from the air and liquids spilled on the floor. Because of this, spots appear and color changes. Water attracts other contaminants - dust, debris.

Pets

Ubiquitous animals scratch the parquet with their claws, drag fatty food and favorite toys across the floor. The most ill-mannered ones may urinate on the floor. The damage caused to parquet by pets is usually the most significant.

Furniture items

Heavy furniture presses down on wooden parquet, and dirt accumulates in the dents, which is difficult to remove. There are also traces on the floor from moving furniture, chairs on wheels, rocking chairs.

Shoes

Shoes with heels, as well as with soles that leave marks due to poor quality paint, contribute to the contamination of parquet floors. Wet things, bags, and umbrellas thrown on the floor also stain the parquet flooring. Moisture combined with dirt is detrimental to parquet.

How to wash parquet

When talking about how to wash parquet flooring, it would be more appropriate to use the word “wipe”; this coating does not like moisture. Parquet cleaning is carried out in the following sequence:

If the floor is carpeted, remove it after cleaning it with a vacuum cleaner.
Vacuum your hardwood floors using a soft-bristle attachment.
If possible, move furniture to one sector of the room to free up as much space as possible.
Dilute the selected detergent in a bucket of warm water and begin wiping.
Try to rinse the rag more often and then wring it out thoroughly.
You need to wash the parquet board in the direction from the far corners to the center of the room.
If, after finishing cleaning, there are wet “islands” left on the parquet, wipe the area with a dry cloth.

After that, all you have to do is put the furniture in its place.

Dry cleaning

Parquet flooring should be cleaned without any noticeable stains, without resorting to detergents. This type of cleaning should be carried out as often and regularly as possible. This is done with a regular mop with a soft attachment, which collects particles of debris and accumulated dust.

You can also resort to using a vacuum cleaner. Some manufacturers equip devices with special attachments. The most common brand is Karcher. The price tag for such a unit is quite significant, however, if you want to preserve the coating for a long time, this is the right investment.

How to wash parquet

The choice of means with which you can keep your parquet floor clean depends on the type of coating.

Varnished parquet should be cleaned using various special products that easily dissolve in water. In this case, the water should be moderately warm; washing with hot water may darken the varnish and lose its shine.

It is not advisable to use water to clean oil-wax coatings. The parquet is cleaned using a vacuum cleaner, and then the coating is treated with special products designed for treating floors coated with oil and wax.

When caring for laminate flooring, it is also recommended to vacuum it and treat it with store-bought products with a minimum amount of moisture.

Parquet care products (store-bought)

Household chemical stores offer a wide range of floor care products. How to care for parquet boards, and what products to choose?

It is recommended to clean parquet using special pH-neutral concentrated products that are diluted with water. Moreover, for varnished parquet, cleaners containing wax are used, and for oiled parquet, respectively, with oil. The cleaning solution must be used in accordance with the instructions.
In addition to concentrates, the modern chemical industry offers cleaners in the form of sprays. They are used to remove greasy stains or stubborn dirt from the coating, as well as to correct minor wear. The product is sprayed onto the floor, after which it is removed using soft rags, and then the surface is rubbed until shiny.
In addition to cleansing, these preparations also perform a protective function, creating a thin layer on the floor surface.
In addition to cleaning agents, it is necessary to periodically treat the coating with special varnishes and wax-oil mixtures. It is recommended to do this once every 12 months in order to protect the parquet board from damage, dust and moisture. The choice of product depends on the type of coating.

Kinds

All types of parquet are distinguished by their natural composition. But installation methods, wear resistance and durability vary depending on the type, number of joints and layers.

Piece

Block parquet consists of individual planks with grooves and tenons for connection. They allow you to assemble a single piece of fabric into a common floor structure. The size of the parts is 50x7.5 centimeters, thickness is 1.5-2.2 centimeters.

This parquet is durable, fits into different patterns, and is easy to repair.

Mosaic

The mosaic, or typesetting, type consists of shields (side size - 40 or 60 centimeters), with the help of which exquisite patterns are assembled. The shields differ in the type of edges and the options for attaching them to each other. Under this type of parquet you can make an insulating layer on the floor.

Shield

Two-layer parquet, consisting of a lining made of fiberboard or boards and an upper decorative part made of small strips of hardwood. The shield has a significant size - sometimes up to 80x80 centimeters.

Parquet board

The main difference is that the board contains 3 layers of wood, the middle part is positioned so that the fibers lie perpendicular to the upper and lower layers. This gives the parquet board strength and durability. This material is convenient to lay on the floor and disassemble.

How to care for varnished parquet

Caring for varnished parquet has its own characteristics.

It should be washed with a minimum amount of moisture, and the surface should also be regularly coated with a special polish that protects it from minor scratches. It is advisable to apply polish once every 30 days.
Every 4-5 years the lacquered surface requires sanding and fresh varnish application. If this is not done, the floor will lose its original color and the wood will also begin to deteriorate.
If you decide to renovate the floor in this way, then after applying the varnish the room should not be used for 14 days. Otherwise, the coating will not be able to dry properly. In addition, for a month after covering the floor with varnish, you should limit yourself to dry cleaning only.

By following these recommendations, you will ensure that your parquet will always be shiny and perfectly clean.

Removing stains from parquet

Even if you take good care of your hardwood floors, stains may appear on them. In order to remove them without a trace and not damage the coating, it is necessary to take into account their “nature”.

Sticky dust

Such contaminants can be removed by treating the problem area with a neutral agent and warm water. If the stains are small, apply a “mixture” of warm water and white clay to the stain for 2–3 hours, then carefully remove the dried product with a damp soft cloth.

If dirt is firmly “settled” in the boards, wash the floor with a solution of water and kerosene (100 ml of the substance per bucket of water). To eliminate the kerosene smell, repeat the wash using a weak vinegar solution (1/2 cup vinegar per 5 liters of water).

Fat marks

Grease stains can be removed by generously covering them with starch and ironing the problem area with a moderately hot iron, after placing a sheet of paper. Starch will absorb remaining fat and will not damage the parquet.

Urine

If such a problem happens to your child or pet, the puddle on the parquet should be wiped up immediately. To prevent the boards from subsequently emitting an unpleasant “aroma,” cover the affected area with a cloth soaked generously in alcohol and leave for half an hour.

Chewing gum, wax, plasticine and paraffin

Any of these substances can be cleaned by applying ice cubes to the stain. The sticky substance will freeze and you can easily remove it with a spatula.

Zelenka

In this case, you cannot do without liquid chlorine-containing preparations. Wet the dirt thoroughly with the gel, and after a few minutes, wipe off the cleaning composition with a rag and rinse the problem area of the floor with warm water. If your parquet is varnished, you will have to polish it, but an oil-based flooring after treatment with bleach will require painting the damaged area.

Paint, colored pencil and nail polish

Acetone or white spirit will help remove such contaminants. Wipe the stain with a cotton swab soaked in the product, and then wash the area with warm water.

Blood stains

Fresh blood is washed off with cold water, and the blood that has dried is wiped with a cotton pad soaked in ammonia. Then the affected part of the floor is wiped with a damp cloth.

Clean stains as soon as they appear to improve cleaning efficiency and preserve the finish.

How to wash parquet to make it shine

To make parquet shine, it can be treated with soluble mastics or turpentine-based products using a soft brush. This will make the finish shiny and also refresh it.

Also, once every 7–10 days, you can treat the parquet board with wax or rub it with an electric polisher using a nozzle with rotating bristles. After this treatment, the floor is rubbed with a piece of felt or flannel fabric.
A solution of glycerin (1 tablespoon per glass of water) will help restore the lost shine, regardless of whether your floor is varnished or “oiled.” Apply the product to a clean floor with a soft cloth, and the result will be no worse than using special products.

The chemical industry offers a huge selection of products for caring for parquet floors, and you can easily keep the flooring in perfect condition.

Prevention measures

Parquet floors experience daily mechanical stress, scratches and chips appear on them. To increase the service life of such coatings, you can use the following methods:

We remove floor carpets. A large amount of dirt accumulates under carpets. Small grains of sand can ruin the top wax or varnish layer of parquet.
We control furniture on wheels. When moving such furniture, scratches and chips appear on the parquet boards.
We make special felt pads for furniture legs. We place a rug at the entrance doors so that moisture is absorbed and sand does not spread across the parquet.

Advice! To solve this problem, we recommend placing mats under furniture wheels, or using soft rubber wheels.