When the lustre and brilliance of your hardwood flooring fades, the effect it has on the appearance of your home interiors can be extremely dispiriting. The whole point of buying hardwood flooring is that you end up with natural shine and character, a sense of authenticity and rich, intense colours. If this diminishes, your investment will be wasted.
Here’s how you can put the sparkle back into your hardwood flooring…
The first thing to say is that you should always consult a professional before attempting to refinish or restore hardwood flooring, especially if you lack confidence. However, if you do want to tackle the job, the following tips should start you off:
1. Ensure the floor is clean by having a good sweep and vacuum round
2. You can now start to remove the very top coat of the finish, using either a buffer with an abrasive pad or an oscillating sanding machine
3. Sand any tricky areas by hand
4. Remove all dust and residue from the floor and the room – do this by sweeping and vacuuming again, and consider using a lint-free towel as well
5. Apply a new finish – polyurethane, wax or oil