You’ve decided to try a bamboo floor for once, to give your home a fresh look. You have your heart set on this choice of flooring because it’s eco-friendly, it’s harder than timber, it’s easier on the wallet, and it happens to match your trendy new table. How will you maintain such a lovely floor, though? Even high-quality bamboo won’t keep its sheen for long without proper maintenance.
Here’s a beginner’s guide to help you take proper care of your bamboo floor.
Keep Clean
While regular cleaning is a must for floors in general, bamboo floors in particular can suffer from a build-up of dust and sand. Small particles like these act like sandpaper on a bamboo floor, pressing into the surface and scratching it. Get rid of any dust and sand by sweeping the floor with a soft brush daily.
For weekly maintenance, you may use a wood floor cleaning kit. Make sure that it’s PH neutral, as abrasive cleaners, acidic products, and cleaners that contain ammonia will badly damage your floor instead. Water-and-vinegar mixtures, even for stains, are not advisable for this same reason. Use a wooden floor cleaning head when vacuuming as well.
Minimize Scratches from Foot Traffic
You might not be able to keep your floor 100% scratch-free, as people will be walking across the floor, but you can at least minimize scratches. Place a doormat or a rug at all entrance doors so that people can wipe their shoes on it before stepping inside. Even better, have everyone remove outdoor footwear and leave it on the porch or on a shoe rack. Never walk across a bamboo floor in stilettos or soccer shoes, which can cause dents and scratches. Regularly dust out doormats and rugs.
If there are any family pets, keep their nails trimmed so that they don’t gouge the wood.
Leave it Dry
While bamboo is relatively moisture-resistant, it’s still porous. Use soft dry mops on your bamboo floor. A damp mop is okay for surface stains and small debris, but don’t leave the floor wet for more than a few minutes. Wipe up any spills immediately to avoid deep stains. Do not immerse the floor in water.
A bamboo floor can also be affected by humidity, shrinking in dry environments or swelling from excessive moisture. Counter such warping with a humidifier or dehumidifier.
Prevent Damage from Improper Furniture Handling
Drag anything heavy across a bamboo floor and you’ll most likely end up with a nice large dent. To avoid this, lift and carry instead of dragging, and be gentle when placing objects on your floor. Stick anti-scratch pads (felt or thick fabric) under the legs of heavy tables and other furniture to keep them from sinking into the floor. If an object has casters, either switch them out for felt-backed wheels or remove them completely.
Preserve its Colour
It would be a shame for your bamboo floor to discolour quickly, wouldn’t it? Keep discoloration at bay by placing rugs in front of sinks, bath stalls, and other high moisture areas. Be sure to use rugs without rubber backing, otherwise it will suffocate the floor and cause discoloration itself. Use shades or blinds to protect sunlit patches of floor, as sunlight can also discolour bamboo.
Fading is unavoidable, but it can at least happen evenly throughout the floor if you move your furniture around every once in a while.
Avoid Wax
Some floors benefit from wax, but a bamboo floor is typically not one of them. Even cleansers that simply contain wax should be avoided. Wax coatings on bamboo are only ideal for commercial applications, as they need to be buffed regularly with costly machines. Such a coating will also make your floor slippery. Finally, floor wax may adhere permanently to the bamboo, so you won’t be able to use other coatings on your floor anymore.
Bamboo is more durable than other hardwoods by default, but with proper care, a bamboo floor can last over 20 years. If you want your brand-new bamboo floor to retain its shine for years to come, consider keeping this beginner’s guide handy!
Author Bio:
George Katsoudas is a Digital Marketing Professional who works as the Managing Director of Low Cost SEO, a digital marketing firm in Sydney and a Digital Media Manager for House of Bamboo, offering Australia the most varied collection of classic and new natural materials.
Company Bio:
House of Bamboo is Australia’s trusted source of eco-friendly and high-quality natural materials that can be integrated into contemporary setting. Our range encompasses high quality bamboo fencing, timber screens, privacy screens, decorative screens, ceiling panels, rattan cane webbing, fence panels, and pool certification.