Are My Hardwood Floors Sealed

The easiest way to test a floor finish is to run your hand along the surface of the floor.

Are my hardwood floors sealed.

Fortunately waxing hardwood floors is an economical tried and true way to restore their gleam. You also find the phrase used in instructions for steam mops which by the way should never be used on wood flooring of any type. Hardwood floors add classic elegance to your home but not when they re dull dinted or dingy. If you can feel the graininess and texture of the wood the floor probably has a coating of penetrating oil and perhaps wax.

So how do you clean unsealed hardwood floors without experiencing any of these problems. If it touches a seam try again with a smaller amount in another area. Gentle cleaners are best for any hardwood floor finish but oiled and waxed floors require a type. However if the bead of water sinks down into the floor and makes a spot the sealant on your floors is no longer sound and water damage can and will occur.

Pour a small amount on the wood. If it stands for 5 minutes without soaking in your hardwood floors are sealed. Protip don t do this in the middle of the floor where you could stare at it for a few days. Sealing the wood protects the floor from moisture which is the floor s worst enemy.

Test for wax by rubbing an out of the way floorboard with the edge of a coin and looking for telltale wax buildup on the. Do not use water to clean your hardwood floors. Locate an out of the way area that is not on a seam for the hardwood boards. Off with the dust.

Almost all hardwood floors are sealed even if the seal is just a coat of penetrating oil and a layer of paste wax. So how do i know if my hardwood floors are sealed. Because different floor finishes have unique care requirements the best way to clean hardwood floors will depend on the type of finish rather than the wood species e g cherry maple oak. Similarly hardwood floors which have not yet been sealed face the same misfortunes.

Although cleaning unsealed vacuum floors requires extreme care and caution simple cleaning principles also apply. There are several different mixtures to use for hardwood floors and you ll. It is quite common to find unfinished wooden floors in older homes and apartments while finished or sealed floors are characteristic of contemporary homes with different sealing or treatment choices available. Get a small glass of water.