Cherry is a beautiful wood and many love the idea of having a cherry hardwood floor. Cherry wood makes good flooring because it has a rich yet unusual color and has a long history of being used in homes. In fact, it has been used for items such as furniture since 400 B. C.
The color of cherry wood varies widely, from a rich red to a reddish brown. The older the wood, the darker the color because the colors darkens over the years due to oxidation. When you use cherry wood for flooring, you add character and warmth to any style home, and get a floor that has a smooth, satiny texture.
There are a few advantages and disadvantages to having cherry hardwood floor in your home. Some of the advantages are that your floor will have a smooth, excellent finish. You can choose from either unfinished or pre-finished flooring material in cherry wood. Another advantage is that it is simple to clean and easy to maintain.
Like all floors made of wood, a cherry hardwood floor does have some disadvantages. Over time, the wood can fade. Excess moisture will damage the wood, so make sure it is never used in a bathroom or a kitchen where spills and steam are likely to occur on a regular basis. A cherry hardwood floor can also be scratched by grit and dirt easily.
It is easy to clean your cherry hardwood floor. A hardwood floor doesn’t collect dust as badly as a carpet does, so a dust mop can easily remove the dust off your floor. Damp mopping will suffice for removing dirt and grime, making it much easier to keep your house clean than having to replace or shampoo carpeting. Always remember to damp mop your cherry hardwood floor, because wet mopping can cause the boards to warp, which will ruin the look of your home and possibly lead to high repair bills.
If you do not take proper care of your floor, you will see the color fade. Direct sunlight is a common cause of this. Simply filter the light through curtains or blinds and this can be greatly reduced. The finish and eventually the wood is scratched by the dirt and grit that is brought into your home so place rugs or mats at doorways to catch it. Wipe up spills quickly, because they can damage the finish and possibly warp the wood if not cleaned quickly.
If you want to clean your floor quickly and make it shine, a solution of white, distilled vinegar added to a gallon of water is perfect. Apply it with a damp mop, or better yet, a terry mop-head or micro-fiber cloth. This will make your cherry hardwood floor shine and kill germs at the same time.Shawn Hickman is the Online Marketing Manager for Sears Home Improvements. If you need more information on Cherry Hardwood Floors, visit the flooring section of our website.
