These days, hardwood flooring is considered to be something of an exclusive luxury above and beyond most alternatives. It certainly isn’t the kind of thing that comes baked into the average modern office block, meaning that when and where hardwood flooring is present around the workplace, it should be properly looked after.
Which of course can be easier said than done – especially when it comes to high traffic areas. One of the problems being that while hardwood floors give the appearance and feel of an incredibly sturdy and robust material, the surface itself is actually quite delicate. And it’s as soon as the surface begins to deteriorate that not only do hardwood floors start looking a little on the sad side, but also become considerably more prone to extensive damage and deterioration.
All of which begs the question – how can you protect yours?
Well, the simple answer is that when it comes to high traffic areas, the best idea is to cover hardwood flooring with some kind of rug, runner or decorative covering of your choosing. If this isn’t an option, there are still a couple of guidelines to follow, which could prove helpful.
Watch Out For Sand And Dirt
For example, any kind of dirt, sand or similar substance that gets walked into the area in question can be nothing less than a nightmare for hardwood flooring. The reason being that it effectively serves as horrifically harmful sandpaper, which slowly but surely grinds away at the surface of the wood with each and every step. As such, the best advice to avoid this happening is to sweep wood flooring comprehensively and do so on a regular basis.
If you cannot get away with rugs and coverings on the hardwood flooring itself, be sure to position effective mats around all entrances to the building and the area in question, in order to ensure that as much sand, dirt and general grime is removed, before the individual in question enters.
Use Water Sparingly
Hardwood floors can be permanently damaged by excessive water. As such, when carrying out any minor or major cleaning efforts, it’s a good idea to use as little water as possible – damp cloths/mops being the best way of going about it. Never under any circumstances use a mop or cloth that is soaking wet, as the result could be excessive moisture creeping its way into the wood and causing irreparable harm.
Use The Right Products
Last but not least, if you decide to use any additional cleaning products to shine and care for your hardwood floors around the workplace, ensure that they are designed specifically for use with these kinds of materials. It really doesn’t matter how ‘universal’ or ‘gentle’ a cleaning product says it is – anything that has not been designed specifically with hardwood flooring in mind could do more harm than good.