Wood floors are durable and easy to maintain but they re still subject to accidental gouges scratches and heavy wear.
Worn down wood floors.
If your hardwood floors are getting worn lightly scratched and grimy but you are hesitant to call a professional for an expensive refinishing.
Unfinished wood or floors with worn down finish are a very different story and require another approach.
Knowing how to clean old hardwood floors that still have a coat of finish is the easy part.
You need to use special techniques for cleaning heavily soiled hardwood floors without a finish.
The coarser paper will cut back the finish more efficiently.
And it s not only the scuffs and scratches because as you wash your floors the cleaning material also builds up.
How to deep clean worn hardwood floors.
No matter how fastidious you are at keeping your hardwood floors clean.
Tips for fixing and cleaning worn out hardwood floors.
Use a scouring pad or sanding screen.
Use 120 grit paper to sand the finish around a spot from which it has completely worn.
Dampen a terry cloth towel and wipe down the hardwood surface.
Over time it will still pick up a few scuffs and scratches which cause the surface to become dull.
How to restore the new look to old wood floors.
Use 150 grit paper if the finish isn t completely worn through or if the floor is finished with oil.
Scuff the worn spot with sandpaper.
If the water beads for a few minutes the finish is sound.
If the water absorbs into the wood the finish is unsound and water based cleaning products must be avoided.