Customers have high expectations, just as they should. Your establishment should appear high-end, and people usually know what to expect when they walk in the door. We buy with our eyes, so when a business has dust on the ceiling and warped shoddy flooring, it gives us an immediate, negative first impression.

You don’t have to replace your hardwood floors to keep customers happy—you can do simple maintenance, repairs, and preventative measures to keep your floors looking their best at all times.

Get Better at Temperature Control

Humidity is the enemy of hardwood floors. Your temperature control helps keep humidity under wraps. Generally speaking, the colder it is, the less humid it is, so you want to make sure you’re not cranking the heat up too high. It’s not a bad idea to get in the habit of controlling this for your energy bill, too.

Semi-Frequent Mopping

Depending on the commercial space, you should be mopping at least twice a week. Restaurants or anything in foodservice should actually mop at least twice a day, if not more, but it’s not always practical when you have hefty foot traffic rolling through.

Get in the habit of mopping regularly, and make sure you follow the next tip to ensure you’re not damaging your floors more than you’re helping them.

Only Clean Up Spills With Wood Cleaner

Designated wood cleaner helps to protect hardwood floors and their finishes, whereas all-purpose cleaners can actually damage varnish and other finishes on the hardwood. You could be mopping with a chemical right now that strips away the coating on your hardwood floors, making you more susceptible to water stains (light and dark), and long-term mold damage. That’s not commercial-friendly, is it?

Constant Dusting

Microfiber pads are your best friend. There’s a lot of light in commercial spaces that can either make your space look fantastic, or show accumulated dust. Microfiber pads (like a Swiffer) should be used constantly to keep dust at bay. Brooms can actually scratch the surface of your hardwood floors; avoid using them when possible.

Is There Any Way to Remove Scratches?

Yes, there is. Floor waxing is done to protect floors, but also to fill in small divots and cracks that can impact the floor life, but can’t be seen unless you get on your hands and knees with a magnifying glass. Those little scratches expand and contract with humidity and become bigger problems down the line.

Because floor wax doesn’t react like water, it’s safe to leave in the creases and cracks of your hardwood floor. If you aren’t able to wax your floor reliably and consistently, you should hire a professional team to do it for you.

What Should I Do if My Hardwood Color is Fading?

Faded floors are usually the result of harsh UV rays hitting the boards. The floors haven’t been stained or sealed properly with a UV-resistant coating, so the best course of action is to refurbish your floors.

Sanding, refinishing, and sealing are what you need to do. This is a rather lengthy task, especially if you have a lot of floor space to cover. Because this disrupts your normal workflow, hiring professionals is the most time-effective method of handling this.

You Can Also Install UV-Blocking Blinds

If your commercial area has a lot of natural sunlight coming in through floor-to-ceiling windows, that’s okay; you can either get them fitted with UV-blocking blinds or coated with a UV-protectant film.

Both options can also help in other ways. These blinds still let light in but cut out a few degrees of heat. You save your hardwood from ultraviolet ray damage and save on your cooling costs at the same time.

Commercial Hardwood Installation and Repair

Properly caring for thousands of square feet of commercial hardwood flooring is no easy task, especially as a business owner with a lot on your plate and precious free time.

Having a difficult time keeping those commercial hardwood floors pristine and presentable? We understand. Contact us today for a quote on high-quality commercial hardwood floor replacement, or touch-up! Call (215) 515-7355 and don’t forget to ask for Steve.