Cleaning Polyurethane Coated Hardwood Floors

It pays to know what type of finish your hardwood flooring is coated with to ensure that you are cleaning it appropriately.

Cleaning polyurethane coated hardwood floors.

Modern hardwood floors are generally finished with a polyurethane or acrylic coating unless a different finish is requested for while older hardwood floors may be unfinished and only stained they have no surface seal or protective film. These coatings are generally durable but they do require a little special care to keep them shiny and strong. The former is usually the more durable of the two. To protect the flooring a clear polyurethane coating is often added to seal the flooring.

This reduces wear and tear and also adds a protective barrier that prevents water and moisture from seeping into the wood. Polyurethane hardwood floor finishes come in two varieties. Hardwood floors generally will be topped with a layer of hard gloss varnish or shellac in the old days polyurethane today which protects the wood from moisture and damage. Wood floors in particular take a bit more care than concrete floors.

However you still need to take special care when cleaning this type of floor as you can damage the floor or the coating if you re not careful. Polyurethane finished wood floors are more durable than the wax coatings of the past. The gloss will wear and become dull over time. All polyurethane finishes are water resistant but flooring professionals advise using water sparingly if at all for cleaning.

Hardwood floors are costly and should be maintained properly.