Naomi Findlay has honed her skills on 114 renovations and the Rapid Renovation Expert and creator of the Rapid Reno Mate app knows a thing or two about protecting what, for many Australians is their greatest investment – their home.
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When it comes to keeping timber floors shining, Naomi is steadfast: prevention is better than cure.
“Keeping timber floors clean and scratch free really means an unbelievable amount of prevention,” she said. “It is so important to reduce your sources of dust, grime and dirt, because they’re the things that – once you put weight on them – actually scratch our boards.
“People say ‘I don’t have kids running toys along the floor, I don’t wear stilettos and I don’t have pets inside’, but there are so many things which we do in our everyday lives that scratch our boards.”
“So, take your shoes off at the door. The dust, dirt and grime that you bring in will absolutely scratch when you put weight on it,” the reno queen said. “Use area rugs, because they are a great way to collect dust and dirt off your feet and stop you walking it right through the home.
“Also, attending to food or water spills really quickly prevents damage. And keep them dry, because where there’s moisture there’s potential for mould and decay over a long period of time.”
Naomi implores people to heed the manufacturer’s care instructions.
“One thing I have noticed is that different manufactures have very, very, different caring regimes – especially with your engineered floors such as floating laminate, bamboo or hardwood,” she said.
“For example, there are floors where you are advised not to wet mop, just use a damp cloth, but no moisture, because it makes the engineered floor bloat.”
Another popular flooring choice is tiles, Beaumont Tiles strategic designer Christie Wood said.
“Technologies in Australia have made porcelain tiles the go-to for main floors,” she said. “Though, in older homes ceramic tiles would be common.”
Keeping a tiled floor gleaming also requires knowledge.
“The best way to find out if your floor cleaner is fit for purpose is to read the back of the bottle. Though, as a rule, avoid using general cleaners not specifically designed for natural stone, ceramic/porcelain tile or grout,” she said.
“Especially with tiles made of stone, because some general cleaners (off the shelf bathroom, tile and grout cleaners) may contain harmful chemicals which may damage natural stone. Miracle Sealant cleaners are specifically designed for cleaning natural stone, ceramic/porcelain tile and grout.”
Ensure you tackle stains with the correct cleaner. Soap scum, hard water build-up, efflorescence or heavy dirt build-up may require a stronger product.
