A Clean Sweep

by V Hesketh
(UK)

I inherited the hardwood floor with the house. It was one of the features I fell in love with. Whoever had lived in the house before me had obviously cherished the floor too, it was in very good condition.


I didn’t know much about the care of hardwood floors but luckily a neighbor was able to help me out with the basics. One of the biggest dangers I did know was water, I had a young family tearing around the house but we had very strict rules about drinks and spillages. From an early age the children knew how important it was to mop up spills immediately.


I also worked from home using some solvents and oil based products so decided to lay large rugs down in the room I used to see clients. Much easier to clean or replace a rug than a damaged floor.


I found that the cleaning pads that you clip onto a broom like handle worked the best at picking up all the odd bits of fluff. These where cheap and worked pretty well.


I have it times when I have run out of the store bought cleaning pads used elastic bands to fasten a cloth over the bristles of a soft broom, this is also a very effective way of gathering all the dirt. The cloth can be washed out and reused time and time again.