Wood Floors and Water Don’t Mix: How Soon To Clean Up a Wet Floor

12/27/2021 (Permalink)

Wood floors are prone to damage when exposed to water.

How Soon To Clean Up a Wet Floor

Hardwood is a popular flooring material for many commercial facilities. While beautiful and trendy, wood floors are prone to damage when exposed to water. But how quickly should you act when your wood floor gets hit with water? From a spilled cup to a pipe burst, learn what to do and when to take action to prevent serious damage.

Minimal Water Exposure

Because wood floors are often used in a variety of professional settings, contact with water may be unavoidable. Instead of cleaning the wood with water, use a minimal amount of hardwood floor cleaner for regular mopping. There are several ways you can avoid damage from a wet floor:

• Place rugs at entry points and high-traffic areas.
  
• Quickly towel up small spills and wet footprints.
  
• Refinish floors when needed so that they have a protective coating.
  
  

Heavy Water Exposure

Unlike the occasional spill or splash, a pipe burst or other water emergency can be cause for greater concern for your beautiful wood flooring. A burst water line can happen all at once or may go unnoticed for a time. Once the water is spotted, the best practice is to act quickly.

Start by shutting off the main water supply to prevent further water exposure. Next, remove as much water as possible from the affected area. A submersible pump or wet/dry vacuum should do the trick. If you do not have access to this equipment, you may want to turn to a professional water cleanup service.

Restoration and Replacement

Once all of the water has been removed, you will need to assess the resulting damages. Wood is susceptible to rot and swelling after longstanding contact with water. Some incidents may be resolved by drying the floor with a dehumidifier, while others may call for replacement of damaged wood altogether.

A pipe burst in Liberty, MO, can cause serious damage to your wood flooring. After flooding, take immediate action to clean and dry your floors to avoid costly replacement.