A single-family rental house might benefit from the value and beauty of a hardwood floor. To maintain the condition of the hardwood floors in your rental home, you must take special care. Regular maintenance is essential. Tenants are frequently very rough with hardwood floors, accidentally scratching and gouging them out of ignorance.
Maintaining your Kenmore rental property’s hardwood flooring properly is one of the most efficient ways to keep them functional and aesthetically pleasing. But it’s important to know how to maintain a hardwood floor correctly. For instance, the majority of hardwood floors are treated on the surface to help shield the wood from liquid spills, scratches, and other types of damage. The ideal method for extending the life of your floor is to maintain this finish.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
For hardwood floors, stay away from using abrasive or aggressive cleaners as they may damage the finish or remove the sealer that serves as protection. Use moderate, wood-safe, pH-neutral, or specially formulated cleaners for hardwood floors. Harsh cleaning chemicals and improper cleaning methods can damage hardwood. An expert-recommended soft microfiber mop or cloth should be used to brush dirt and dust off the floor. Vacuum cleaners can scratch a hardwood floor, and standard mops use too much water, which can also cause damage.
Avoid Excessive Moisture or Sunlight
Due to hardwood surfaces’ susceptibility to moisture damage, it is essential to avoid significant water or liquid spills. Immediately clean up any spillage to prevent it from penetrating the wood and causing damage. Instead of covering the floor in water, use a damp mop to clean it. Additionally, excessive direct sunlight can cause hardwood floors to lose their color. To prevent overexposure, filter sunlight with draperies, blinds, or window films.
Regular Cleaning and Preventative Measures
While a landlord has numerous alternatives, one of the best ways to keep a rental property looking immaculate is to work with your tenants to preserve the hardwood flooring. One of the first steps you should take is to instruct your tenant on the appropriate care and cleaning of the hardwood floors. By teaching them how to properly care for the hardwood, you can extend its life and preserve its elegance while also preventing damage.
To prevent dirt and grit from tracking onto the hardwood floor, suggest to tenants that they place mats or rugs in high-traffic areas and entryways. When moving or rearranging furniture, consider placing felt pads or furniture coasters under the legs to prevent denting or scratching the surface.
Periodic Maintenance
Hardwood flooring still need a little extra care every few years or in between renters, even with excellent maintenance. Over time, wear and stress can cause the finish of a floor to deteriorate and acquire scratches and other flaws. But if that’s all there is, you probably won’t need to give the floor a thorough refinish. Typically, a screening, which roughens the current finish’s surface, and a new application of a finish are sufficient to restore a deteriorating hardwood floor. Repairing and refinishing your hardwood floor may be your only option if it has become significantly damaged, warped, has deep scratches, or has other problems. It takes time, skilled assistance, and specific tools to refinish a floor.
Taking care of hardwood floors does not have to be difficult, but enlisting your tenant’s assistance requires additional planning and encouragement. However, if they maintain positive tenant relations, they are more likely to assist you in keeping your valuable hardwood floor in pristine condition.
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Originally Published on November 29, 2019
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