Wood floor cleaning – Problems caused by pets

Hard wood floors are, without doubt, one of the most beautiful and classy floors that one can have in a domestic setting and has been considered for centuries a sign of class.  The warmth and homely feel that is offered will last for years providing you are able to maintain it properly.  General cleaning efforts are not always helped, however, when there are pets present in the area.

Pets are of course a wonderful addition to any family and give years of happy memories, but they do cause problems and will affect your hard wood floors if extra care is not taken.  Regular cleaning and maintenance tips often focus on spillages and the importance of keeping the floor ‘scratch free’, but pets (especially dogs and cats) add an extra complication.

Animals need to be ‘trained’ where to go and of course with a new kitten or puppy accidents will occur, as it will when a cat or dog gets too old.  Whilst spillages will usually occur when you are close by, most people cannot spend all day with their pet to clean up after them.  One of the most important steps is without doubt the application of a good sealant to ‘waterproof’ the floor and provide extra protection.  This will prevent liquids seeping into the floor and basically staining it.  A sealant is not the be all and end all solution, but a good quality one is vital – a company which specializes in wood floor cleaning will be able to recommend one for you.

Stains can be crudely split into old and fresh, and in the case of fresh stains the key is simply to clean up as soon as possible, blotting to absorb as much liquid as possible before cleaning the area first by rinsing with warm water.  This water should be completely dry so as not to affect the floor further before the application of a specialized stain and odor remover should be applied.  Older stains can be trickier as over time they may have seeped into the wood or seeped into spaces, and this will happen more if there is no sealant, or if the sealant is worn or has been scratched.

A professional cleaning specialist will be able to advise as to the extent of the effect, but once wood has been actually stained or effected in some way, sanding the surface to achieve the same uniform look as before can often be the only solution.  Care should be taken to make sure that the sealant is protected, and clipping the claws of cats for example, and dogs of course, will prevent them from scratching and marking the floor as they run and play.

If there has been visible damage or the appearance has been affected in some way, it is probably a good idea to contact a wood floor cleaning company which will be able to assess and offer the best course of action, as well as deal with any of the damage done.