Soft brush and vacuum attachment
A soft-bristle brush and a vacuum with a hard-floor attachment pick up sand without scratching the finish. Stiff brushes and wheels with sand stuck to them can leave marks on lacquer.
Tools
Tools
Caring for parquet does not take a workshop. A small set of simple things protects the floor from sand and water, helps you notice dry air in time and hide an accidental scratch. Below is what is worth keeping at home, without brands, and what of it you will need when working with lacquers and oils.
The simplest parquet repair is a felt pad stuck under a chair leg before arcs of scratches from its legs appear on the floor. It needs no craftsman and no preparation, and it protects lacquer better than any polish.
How this section works: we list supplies by care and small-repair task, without brands or models. Choose them by purpose and by compatibility with your finish, and use floor products as your flooring manufacturer directs.
For care and small repairs
Supplies that come in handy in a home with a wood floor, every day and from time to time.
A slightly damp cloth
A soft cloth or a mop with a microfiber pad, wrung out well before cleaning. It should leave no puddles or streaks on the floor.
Felt furniture pads
Pads under the legs of chairs, tables and armchairs spare the floor from scratches and dents. Check them from time to time: worn felt with sand stuck to it starts scratching on its own. For rolling chairs, use soft casters or a protective mat.
Wax sticks and wood filler
They help hide small scratches and chips in the finish. Test the shade on an inconspicuous spot and apply according to the manufacturer's instructions. They cannot fix deep damage — that is work for a craftsman.
Hygrometer
A simple room device shows the humidity of the air. With it, it is easier to understand why gaps appeared in winter and to turn on a humidifier in time to keep humidity within the range the flooring manufacturer advises.
Protective gear
Gloves, safety goggles and a respirator are needed when working with lacquers, oils and solvents and when sanding even a small area. Work with the windows open and keep products away from children and open flame.
Related sections
- How-to
How to clean a wood floor without harming it and how to hide a small scratch. And what is better not to do yourself.
- Care
Caring for lacquer, oil and wax, light and dark floors, entryways and sunny rooms, the seasonal check.
- Materials
Strip and inlaid parquet, engineered and solid planks, parquet panels, end-grain blocks and wood species. The article catalogue lives here too.
Sources
- Technical documentation from manufacturers of parquet, lacquers and oils
- EMERCOM of Russia — home fire safety guidance
Information about wood floors is given in general terms, based on encyclopedic and etymological dictionaries, technical documentation from manufacturers of parquet, lacquers and oils, and home fire safety guidance from Russia's emergency services ministry (EMERCOM). How to treat your particular floor is up to its manufacturer, and the condition of the floor and subfloor should be judged by a craftsman who sees them in person.