Parquet Floor Cleaning: A Comprehensive Guide
Not sure how to go about parquet floor cleaning?
Parquet is a wooden flooring style that emerged in the 17th century in France. To create designs, a selection of hardwoods is cut into geometric figures and arranged in sophisticated novel patterns. Craftsmen sand, polish and glue down wooden pieces into unique arrangements.
Parquet or wooden flooring demanded craftsmanship of the highest level in its early era; only the wealthiest in the society afforded it as it was far more expensive than other floorings. Despite the high cost of installation parquet flooring continued its popularity until 1930s when carpets were introduced, a cheaper, warmer and exotic alternative to wooden flooring. However, with the advent of wooden manufacturing technology, parquet flooring became less expensive and thus clawed back to market popularity in the 1980s.
Parquet flooring is known to make a living room or a lounge warm, cosy and elegant. It goes well with several interior styles from classic to vintage, modern or contemporary.
Cleaning and Maintenance of Parquet Flooring
While parquet flooring adds to the style quotient of interior design, it requires regular maintenance and care otherwise the polish of wooden frames will deteriorate over time. In this guide, we will discuss how to clean and maintain parquet floor.
- It goes without saying you have to clean the floor regularly, daily, if possible. Wooden floors do not tolerate moisture. Use a home humidifier to avoid shrinkage of wood as weather changes. If you spill water or other liquids, wipe it off with a dry mop immediately.
Regular cleaning will also ensure dust and crumbs are not accumulated over time. Course dust and crumbs cause scratches on the floor as you walk over them. Such scratches may require you to re-polish the entire floor.
If you wish to save your time of regular cleaning, make a recurring (weekly) cleaning arrangement on the Sendhelper app or website and get your favourite cleaner to take charge of the floor. - Use a vacuum cleaner as the first step to cleaning the floor. It is the gentlest way to remove dust. However, use a vacuum cleaner with rubber wheels to keep the floor from scratches as you move around. Never drag a vacuum cleaner without wheels. After vacuuming use a broom with gentle bristles to sweep the floor to get rid of all the particles the vacuum cleaner missed to absorb.
- Some cleaners recommend mopping the floor in case of tough stains or dirt. Use a damp mop on sealed floors but ensure to wring it thoroughly to avoid water spilling on to the floor. Also, do not use hot water or keep the pail or bucket of hot water on the floor for prolonged time as it will leave marks of the pail on the floor which can be fixed only by polishing.
- Once in a while your wooden flooring will require deep cleaning. Use a floor cleaner mixed with minimal water to mop the floor. Remember that not all floor cleaners are suitable for wooden flooring. Here’s a list of recommended floor cleaners. We recommend you engage professional deep cleaning services specialised in parquet (wooden) flooring. Sendhelper is one of the leading home cleaning service providers in Singapore with expertise in maintenance of parquet and other floor types.
Additional Tips to Keep Parquet Flooring Shine Bright
Sanding, Refinishing & Polishing
Parquet floors may lose its shine over time due to wear and tear and regular cleaning. Sanding, refinishing and polishing are some of the methods to keep the floors look brand new. Let us learn more about these methods:
Sanding: Sanding of parquet (wooden) floors involves removal of a thin layer of the floor using an abrasive material like sandpaper before applying polish.
Refinishing: Refinishing involves sanding as well as some additional works. It involves removing damaged boards and replacing them with new ones and filling gaps between parquet strips.
You must do sanding and refinishing after 5-6 years from installing the parquet floor.
Polishing: Polishing is an easier task that involves application of melamine and varnish on the floor. Polishing removes minor scratches and damages to the wooden floor. You must polish the floor once a month as a maintenance routine not only to keep it shiny but also to add protection to it.
Parquet flooring lends your space a premium touch and makes it look attractive. However, parquet floors require much attention and care compared to other types of floorings. Clean the floor regularly, polish it periodically, and do refinishing after 5-6 years to improve its longevity.
