How to Properly Maintain Hardwood Floors in Your Rental Property

You choose hardwood floors when you want to add character and timeless assets to your rental property. This type of flooring always increases the beauty and longevity of any type of property. It’s also very appealing to potential renters.

But in order to maintain its longevity, you need to pamper it with adequate, constant care. It’s no secret that hardwood flooring requires special maintenance, so you must ensure the tenants are aware of this.

Some maintenance practices will protect and preserve your hardwood floors and won’t demand too much from your tenants. Here are some tips on properly maintaining hardwood floors in your rental property.

Why is Hardwood Floor Maintenance Important for a Rental Property?

Keeping your rental property’s hardwood floors functional and aesthetically pleasing isn’t as hard as it seems.

The key to preserving it is regular maintenance.

There’s always a risk when you let tenants into your rental property. They may scratch or gouge them while moving furniture, luggage, toys, etc. It’s true, though, that any flooring becomes worn over time, especially in high-traffic areas such as the entryways.

There are also other ways in which hardwood flooring can be damaged, such as spills, relative humidity, water, etc.

The main reason you should invest time and resources in the regular maintenance of your hardwood floors is simple. Due to all those kinds of damage, it can easily affect its lifespan, leading to more expenses on your side.

To avoid this, there are certain ways in which you can maintain your hardwood floors in excellent condition and also preserve their value.

Tips and Advice on Hardwood Floor Maintenance

Like your car needs regular and proper maintenance for safety, durability, and overall appearance, so does the flooring in your rental property. Minimizing stress on your hardwood floors isn’t impossible.

Yes, it will take some planning time, but it will all be worth it. With some regular maintenance, the right tools, and help from your tenants, keeping your hardwood floors in pristine condition won’t be such a hard task.

Here are some useful tips and advice on maintaining your flooring properly.

Clean up Spills on Time

Of course, the best scenario is to have a responsible and clean tenant, but it’s always best to mention keeping the floor clear of dirt, spills, debris, and clutter before you sign the lease. Spills lead to moisture and can easily destroy any type of flooring.

If your tenants leave spills, liquids, or pet urine sitting on the hardwood floor for too long, it will occasionally lead to damage, especially if it gets under the boards. So, require your tenant to address any type of spills, water, and other liquids on the floors as soon as possible.

Use Pads Under the Furniture Legs

If you haven’t thought of this hack earlier, now’s the time to get some pads for the legs of your furniture. Chairs, tables, sofas, and any other type of furniture that rests unprotected on the floor can cause scratches or dents. That’s why it’s an awesome and very useful idea to ask your tenants to put pads under the legs of the furniture in your rental property. You can provide some for them if they don’t have any. It’s for your rental property’s benefit, not theirs. These life-savers also minimize the noise of sliding.

Protect the Floors with Rugs

Tenants can’t damage a floor if it’s covered. Area rugs and runners are also life savers for your hardwood floors. They’ll protect the flooring from spills, drips, dents, and scratches, and they’ll minimize the amount of wear and tear in high-traffic areas. Rugs also shield the floors from pet nails and toys. They’ll provide the tenants with more comfort and coziness and protect your precious hardwood floors. It would be best to place them in key places such as high-traffic areas like the entryway, under the sofa, the table, around beds, or the kitchen table.

Sweep and Dust Daily

Another important recommendation is sweeping and dusting on a daily basis. It may seem a bit excessive, but it’s really crucial for preserving the overall appearance and condition of the hardwood floors. Dust forms everywhere and settles everywhere, even between the floorboards. This is another thing you need to specify in your rental agreement: that your tenants take cleanliness as a priority. Wrong cleaning techniques can also damage hardwood floors. That’s why professional cleaning services, including end of tenancy expert cleaners, use soft microfiber mops or cloths to remove dust and dirt.

Vacuum Weekly

Vacuum cleaners aren’t good only for carpets. But some vacuum cleaners can scratch up a hardwood floor, so be aware of what your tenants use. The vacuum’s extender attachments are great for sucking up dust and dirt along the baseboards and between the boards. Of course, they should use these attachments with care because, once again, they can cause scratches to the flooring.

Make it Easy for Tenants to Maintain the Floors

When it comes to preserving the pristine condition of your hardwood floors, you’re pretty much at the mercy of your tenants and their willingness to give the flooring enough attention. Visiting them to check if the floors are okay isn’t on the table because, first of all, you have many more important things on your own, and secondly, your tenants will probably not be so cool about it.

But there are things you can do. Making it easy for them to maintain the floors is your best bet. For example, you can supply them with the correct cleaning supplies and explain to them how to properly use the equipment on the property. Doing these things’ll makes it much easier and more convenient for them to take care of the hardwood floors.

How Often Should you Re-finish the Hardwood Floors?

There’s no doubt that regular maintenance and proper care are the keys to preserving the pristine condition of your hardwood floors. But you should probably know that nothing lasts forever.

So, how often should you re-finish them? The correct answer to this question is every three to five years.

This, of course, depends on the amount of damage and wear. When the floors start looking a little dull, it’s probably time for recoating.

It’s best to contact professional property maintenance services to do the job if you want it done the best way! This will bring back the beauty and healthy condition of your hardwood flooring for the next couple of years.

Conclusion

And there you have it! With a few simple daily tasks, you can preserve these precious floors. They’re a significant investment that needs regular and proper maintenance.

With these few steps, you’ll preserve the value of the flooring in your rental property. The entire maintenance process doesn’t have to be difficult, exhausting, or stressful. It just takes some planning and the right cleaning supplies.

Having good relations with your tenants is also helpful because they’ll more likely help you keep the floors in the best possible condition.