Parquet flooring is just one of many different types of wooden floor. It’s been in existence since the 16th century and can be designed in a variety of patterns, allowing you to create the perfect floor to suit your house and lifestyle.

The great thing about high-quality parquet flooring is that it is extremely durable, once you’ve put it down you can keep it there for the rest of your life, providing you take care of it.

Protection

One of the most important steps in caring for your parquet floor is to protect it. Every person who walk on the floor can have tiny stones and pieces of grit on the bottom of their shoes.  These can rub against the floor causing tiny scratches. Even if the scratches are not visible to the naked eye, they will damage the protective coating on your floor and potentially shorten its life.

The best way to protect your floor is to have a shoe grate outside your home where people can wipe off the worst of the dirt and grit. You can then use mats inside your home to ensure the dirt is contained. Don’t be afraid to insist people take their shoes off, it’s your home.

Deal With Spills

No matter how hard you try something will get spilled on your parquet floor at some point. If this happens the trick is to deal with the spill immediately. Simply place a dry cloth over the spill and dab, this will remove excess liquid. You can then lightly mop the affected area with your damp cloth and a little mild dish soap. 

If the spill is sticky then soak your cloth in boiling water for a few minutes and then wring it out before placing it over the sticky area. Leave it for 5-10 minutes and you’ll find the heat has evaporated the stickiness, allowing you to wipe the mess away. 

Vacuuming

You also need to regularly vacuum your floor using a soft bristle attachment designed for hardwood floors. This will ensure the floor isn’t scratched and any enable the vacuum to pick up dirt that has squeezed into the cracks between the wooden sections of your floor.

Ideally, you should vacuum daily to ensure the floor remains as clean as possible.

Mopping

Your parquet floor also needs to be mopped on a daily basis. The mop should not be too wet. In fact, it should only just be damp. This means dipping it into your water and wringing it out several times.

It’s a good idea to lightly mop after every vacuum.

Polishing

Every 3-6 months you should vacuum and wash your floor before adding a floor polish/wax. This will seal the floor, prevent liquids from getting into and damaging the wood. This is particularly useful for protecting against spills. 

As part of this process, you can also eliminate small scratches without the use of fillers. 

But, the real secret to taking care of your parquet floor is simply being vigilant, if you spot an issue deal with it instantly, it will make it much easier to resolve.