22 MARCH 28, 2019 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
AT HOME
Springtime is here: Try these tips for sparkling fl oors
Spring is here. Time to spruce
up your home, clean out those
dusty corners and say goodbye to
winter. You’re not alone in the spring
cleaning adventure - according to
the American Cleaning Institute, 91
percent of Americans participate in
spring cleaning.
As you join your fellow Americans
this year, don’t forget to show a little
extra love to those hardwood fl oors.
The fl oor is the largest surface in your
house, so caring for and cleaning your
fl oors is important to keeping the home
healthy and dust-free. Particularly for
hardwood fl oors, a little care goes a long
way in keeping this central feature in
your home looking beautiful.
Here are a few easy spring cleaning
tips to care for hardwood fl oors the right
way - quickly, effi ciently and safely.
1. Clear out the clutter. Spring is a
great time to declutter, and clearing
out the room not only looks cleaner
but will allow fewer places for those
dust bunnies to collect. Carefully move
large items out of the way, so you can
give the room a wall-to-wall, thorough
clean. If you have limited space, move a
couple of pieces of furniture at a time.
Enlist help from family or friends to
avoid scratching your fl oors and to
prevent a back injury! This is also a
great opportunity to consider a new
furniture arrangement, or to clear out
little-used or worn-out items to open
up your space.
2. Banish the dust. Dust, sweep
or gently vacuum hardwood fl oors
fi rst to remove all of the loose dust,
accumulated pet hair and fi ne debris.
Even small particles of dirt can create
micro scratches in the fi nish.
3. Get the right tools. Not just any
old mop will do. Old-fashioned sponge
or string mops tend to just push the
dirt around, or they can leave streaks
of dirty water on your hardwood fl oors.
For more eff ective cleaning on any kind
of fl ooring, the Bona Premium Spray
Mop is an all-in-one solution with the
largest mop head base plate in the
industry. That means covering more
fl oor surface in less time. The mop
also has rubberized corners to prevent
damaging baseboards or furniture
during your enthusiastic cleaning.
Use a washable, reusable microfi ber
pad designed for hardwood floors
to ensure dirt is lift ed and trapped
in the pad.
4. Use the right solution. Did you
know that some fl oor cleaners can
actually damage hardwood floor
fi nish? Standard soap and water, and
products containing ammonia or
vinegar-and-water solutions can strip
the fi nish and dull your hardwood
fl oors - even when diluted with water
- making them look and feel less clean.
Oil-based cleaning products can leave
a residue, making the surface of your
fl oor dangerously slippery. Instead,
look for a residue-free, non-toxic
cleaner specially developed to help
clean and protect hardwood fl oors.
Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner, which
is recommended by professional fl oor
installers, is safe to use in your home
and around family and pets.
5. Protect your fl oors. Aft er cleaning
your hardwood fl oors, consider using
easily washable or vacuumable rugs
under furniture to prevent marks
or scratches from marring your
hardwood fl oors. Furniture pads are
another inexpensive investment to
protect the fl oor fi nish. Finally, add
doormats at key entryways in your
home to grab dirt and debris before it
ever hits the fl oor.
Courtesy BPT
Ridgewood – Glendale – Middle Village
Dumpsters in 10 – 20 – 30 – 40 cubic yards.
$35 off your next container
Call 1-866-592-7917
Bic #173
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