How to Keep the Natural Beauty of Your Parquet for Many Years

Originally made famous by Louis XIV, parquet flooring, from classic herringbone to modern geometric patterns, adds a distinctive elegance to the home. Parquet never goes out of fashion – it combines well both with traditional design and contemporary home decoration. That is why if you have parquet flooring in your home, you have a real treasure. And like every treasure, it is worth keeping its shine and glory as long as possible.

Here are some tips for keeping your parquet floor in good shape for many years:

Cleaning your floor regularly

Taking good care of your parquet is a big part of what you need to do to keep it in shape.

And for once, that’s easier than it sounds. Begin by vacuuming the entire floor to remove the majority of dirt and dust. Bear in mind that most vacuum cleaners have a special setting for hardwood – use it to avoid scratching of the surface of the floor. Next, use a broom or Swiffer sweeper to remove the smaller particles and dispose of them. It's important to remove all the grit from the surface, for they can cause scratches while doing the next action – mopping. The key to successfully mop your parquet flooring is to use as little moisture as possible. In most cases, plain water is enough for regular cleanings.

Surely, you can also use parquet floor cleaners, that are specially designed to enhance wooden flooring with nutrients and additives to keep it looking its best. Avoid using harsh cleaners on parquet flooring. They can damage the finish and take away the original shine. And remember, wood and water don't mix well. Use minimal amounts of water when cleaning and ensure the area can dry thoroughly.

Protect heavy traffic areas

In every home, there are floor areas, that are more affected by the dwellers, than others and it is important to pay special attention to these, to keep them in shape for a longer time. We suggest that you protect heavy traffic zones such as entry areas and walkaways with decorative rugs, for example.

Control the humidity in your home

The right humidity in a room (between 40 and 60%) is crucial for protecting your floor. Warm air easily becomes too humid, potentially making the wood planks expand. The colder the air, the less water it contains, which can make wood shrink. During winter, heating systems further dehydrate the air indoors.

A hygrometer can give you the specifics about the humidity in your home. Make sure to attach it to an indoor wall, not too close to a window. If the air is too dry or humid, humidifiers, air scrubbers and dehumidifiers can do the trick.

Ask for a little green help

There’s also a natural way of solving room humidity problems: house plants. They release oxygen, moisten the air and purify it: that’s not only good for your hardwood floor but your health as well.

A double win!

Turn back time! Sand your floor!

Nothing can compare with the renovated look of your old parquet floor. Wood floor sanding turns back time and revives the authentic feeling and natural beauty of the old, dry timber.

Sanding removes the protective layer of your floors - be it varnish, oil or hard wax-oil and makes their surface smooth, clean and ready for a new finish, that returns the former glory of the floor. If parts of the floor have been damaged due to moisture, wearing and lack of solidness, do not worry - parquet blocks can be re-fitted, or entirely replaced.