The wood care experts who make Murphy Oil Soap have some advice on how to keep your floors looking shiny and beautiful.

The first key to maintaining your wood floors is to know what type of finish you have.

Most wood floors installed after the 1960s are finished with polyurethane, which hardens into layers of solid plastic sheets on the surface of the wood.

To find out, scratch the surface of the wood with a coin in an inconspicuous area. If the finish flakes off, a finish like varnish or shellac was probably used. If you think you have wax floors, apply a few drops of water and wait 10 minutes. If white spots appear under the droplets, then your floor has a wax finish. A polyurethane finish will not flake after being scratched with a coin, and white spots will not appear after exposure to water droplets.

A finish with a dull and lifeless appearance can usually be revived with a good cleaning to remove accumulated dirt. For polyurethane-finished floors, use a cleaner like Murphy Oil Soap for cleaning. To give your floors the best shine, make sure you follow diluting directions properly when using the concentrated version of Murphy Oil Soap.

Other ways to help preserve your wood floor shine include regularly sweeping and vacuuming your floors weekly; placing area rugs in high traffic locations; using floor protector pads or soft felt on the bottoms of furniture legs; setting a humidifier or dehumidifier to maintain a level of 30 to 50 percent humidity in the home; and protecting your floors from direct sunlight.

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Watch this video if you have water leaks in your basement creating cracks in your basement’s floor and walls and want to learn how to fix them the right way.

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Keep a high traffic floor evergreen using replaceable carpet tiles.

Unbeatable Performance

Today’s laminates feature the realistic characteristics of wood in both texture and grain while providing durability that is unmatched by real wood. Laminate wears much better than wood and requires far less maintenance, so homeowners can enjoy living their active lifestyles without worrying about how their floors are going to hold up to everyday wear and tear.

Scratching and indentations can easily mar the beauty of real wood, but laminate resists scratches and nicks. Because it’s so durable, laminate flooring requires no waxing or varnishing and is much easier to clean than traditional wood floors. In addition, laminate doesn’t need costly and time-consuming refinishing like real wood does. As an example of this exceptional durability, all products in Tarkett Residential’s new North American Laminate Collection feature a high-performance layering system and offer a lifetime warranty against wear, fading and staining.

Up-to-Date Designs

The newest laminates offer both traditional and contemporary designs, from natural oaks to exotic wood patterns. Colors range from dark wood grains to warm and light tones that will complement any room of the house in need of a fashion update. Tarkett’s Laminates, like its New Frontiers collection, also feature high-gloss finishes to lend the look of exceptional elegance. In addition to a wide assortment of colors, grain designs and textures, it’s available in realistic 6-inch wide planks. Other laminate products are also available in a variety of plank widths – from narrow four-inch boards to wide 8-inch planks.

Today’s laminate flooring not only comes in wood grain patterns but can also replicate the look of tile, natural stone and metallic. The tile and stone laminates provide an upscale appearance but without all the fuss – cold floors, grout to scrub and cracking tiles.

Do-It-Yourself

You don’t need to be a pro to install a new laminate floor. Laminate floors come in easy-to-install planks that snap together, with no need for messy glue or nails to pound. Laminate can also be used over many types of existing flooring, including concrete and real wood, so often new subfloor installation is not necessary.

Cost Benefit

In nearly every case, laminate flooring simply costs less than traditional wood flooring. Today’s laminates have the realistic look of authentic wood, but without the high price tag. Laminate flooring can cost less than half the expense of real wood products. Because it’s so simple to install you can do it yourself, or if you use a contractor, typical installation costs should run far less than installing real wood planks.

So for the great look and warmth of wood, the strength to stand up to most anything your home dishes out, and a great price, consider laminate for your next flooring choice.

For more information on laminate flooring, go to www.tarkett.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent