Hardwood floors may be one of the most aesthetically pleasing design choices you can make for a home. Sure, Muir modern homes with marble floors or something similar looks great and futuristic, but they do not provide that same feeling of comfort and beauty as wood. This is one of the main reasons that a lot of people decide to make their staircase out of wood. That is a great decision because wood is quite durable and can last for a long time if maintained properly.
However, this is where the problems start to show up. A very small amount of people invest time and effort into maintaining their hardwood stairs and that is not a good decision. Of course, wood is durable and can probably endure years and years of going up and down the stairs, but by providing them the care they need, they could last 20 or even 30 years. If taking care of properly, the wood could stay in pristine shape indefinitely.
Assuming that you have decided to finally start cleaning and maintaining your wooden staircase, you will probably need a couple of tips to assist you. Don’t worry, this guide for 2024 will tell you everything there is to know about this subject.
Regular cleaning
Like I already said, wood can be sturdy, but it does require at least a little bit of cleaning from time to time. You will need to understand that regular cleaning is essential to keep your staircase in pristine shape. The best way to do this is to just create a routine that you will follow every two weeks or even better, once a week.
At first, it will seem boring and too much, but once you get the hang of it, it won’t take you more than 10 or 15 minutes. Although, that heavily depends on the number of stairs, their shape, and size.
Once you start cleaning, it is very important to go through everything with a broom first and then with a mop. When using the broom, make sure you go through all of the tight corners to ensure that there is no junk or debris accumulating. It is also common for spiders or other bugs to create a nest in these nooks and crannies.
Keep in mind, when mopping, you shouldn’t use too much water because it can get absorbed by the wood which may lead to worsening the structural integrity of the wooden fibers.
Of course, if all of this seems too complicated for you or if you do not have the free time throughout the day to attend to your staircase, you should probably consider hiring professionals. Either way, a professional will do a much better job at cleaning a stairwell according to stockholmsallstad.se.
Clean as soon as possible
Many people have built the habit of forgetting about certain spills or stains from liquids or food. I understand, sometimes it happens and when you are in a rush, you can simply forget about it and you will clean it later or the next day. Most of the time, that is fine, but when it comes to wooden staircases, the situation must be dealt with immediately.
I mentioned earlier that using a lot of water while mopping can be damaging to the surface, well imagine how bad it can be when you spill something worse than water. Sugary drinks, alcoholic drinks, and anything else that is not water can cause a lot more damage when the wood starts to absorb that liquid.
So, next time you are going down the stairs and drop a splash of your favorite drink, I would recommend going back with a paper towel and clean that up. Make sure you run it with a wet towel afterward to ensure that it won’t get sticky.
Don’t use any strong chemicals
Another very important thing you have to remember when cleaning the stairwell is the fact that you should never use any strong materials that may prove damaging to the wood. Believe it or not, but most of the products you have at home are probably a chemical that might cause you some problems.
Fortunately, there are a lot of alternatives you can find in most stores that not only are a great option for cleaning, but they usually have some kind of ingredients that are healthy for everything wooden.
Although, if you don’t exactly feel comfortable shopping for new products and chemicals, you could just make do with just water or soap with water. But, I would recommend getting a brand-new mop because an old one might have small pieces that can leave dents or scratches while mopping.
Reapply varnish
Any wooden surface you can find at home usually has some kind of a transparent and clear layer. This is usually referred to as a finish. Basically, this is usually applied to protect the wood from possible scratches, dents, and discoloration. It also gives it a richer color and maintains it for years and years.
Assuming that you want your staircase to stay in its pristine shape as long as possible, you will have to replace the varnish every couple of years to maintain the health of the staircase. Keep in mind, this entire process of re-varnishing is complicated and takes a lot of time and effort, especially if you plan to do it by yourself, but I think it is well worth it. It is a much cheaper and faster option than having to replace all of the wooden boards on the staircase, right?
Extra varnish for dents or scratches
If you have decided that it is time to reapply the varnish on your staircase, I would recommend adding an extra layer on spots with dense, scratches, or cracks. This way you can make the surface appear that it is smooth. Of course, visually, a crack will still be visible, but it will not look bad at all.
As you can see, maintaining the staircase in your own home is not as complicated as it seems. With a little bit of effort in a bit of your time, you can easily keep your staircase in perfect shape.
