Everything You Want To Know About Our Wood Floors

I get so many questions about our wood floors and I’ve been meaning to write this post for a long, long time. We’ve had our dark hardwood floors for a few years now, and I get a lot of inquires about what I use to clean them, my system for keeping them clean, if I’d pick this color again, how they are wearing and if I still like them. I finally carved out some time to do it, and today I’m answering all the questions I get.

Welcome to everything you want to know about our wood floors.

Everything You Want To Know About Our Wood Floors

We installed our hardwood floors a few years ago, and as you can see, we went dark. I was adamant that I did not want any red in our floor, and to avoid that, we ended up with these. We were short on time, wanted something we could see in person, and of course, the B word was forever on our minds… the often hindering budget. Looking back, this is a time I should have blown the budget! Because this project was less about the cost of the actual flooring, and more about the inconvenience of moving every single thing in our home and living in the upheaval, while we installed them all on our own. It was 100% DIY – from demo, down to the last piece of baseboard. 

That being said, we did the best we could, at the time. Something I’m sure we are all experienced with. 

Now, they aren’t as dark as they very often look in pictures. In real life, they are lighter and you can actually see more grain and character. The name of our flooring is Knob Hill Birch, I’d rather not share where we got them because I’m not entirely sold on the quality. They are real hardwood, nail-down, tongue-in-groove, and the finish is matte. I’m very happy with the matte finish, but if I could go back, I’d select something different altogether. I’d prefer a wider, more casual plank to better suit our casual, modest home. The beveled edge is something I’d avoid as well, and I’d settle on something in more of a mid-tone, as far as the depth of the color is concerned.

But I didn’t. And, I’m lucky to have these lovely floors, for which I am grateful and thankful. My husband did a wonderful job installing them, especially considering it was his first time ever putting in real hardwood floors!

Today’s sponsored post is brought to you in partnership with the maker of Orange Glo™ cleaning products. My review to follow is 100% in my own words, and my I’m sharing with you my own experience using the products!  

Now, it falls to me to maintain them.

However, when it comes to cleaning, this is something that I am confident with. And I am a stickler for clean floors. Oh I can leave dishes in the sink… but I want fresh, clean, blissful barefoot-walking wood floors. I’ve been using Orange Glo™ cleaning products to keep them just that way, and I’ve been so satisfied with the results. After all, it’s such an important part of having wood floors. And, if I’m going to spend the time & energy cleaning my floors, I want them to look and feel like it!!

As I mentioned, I’ve been using Orange Glo™ cleaning products. I recently had the opportunity to try the suite of products, and I wanted to share my results with you.

I received the Everyday Cleaner, the 4-in-1 Monthly Polish, and the Wood Furniture 2-in-1 Clean and Polish. The timing could not have been better, because I’d been struggling with finding a system for upkeep. I’ve been using the Everyday Cleaner, for… everyday cleaning. I know, shocker! And the 4-in-1 Monthly Polish is used when I feel like I need a little extra oomph. I tried that in my kitchen, since it gets the most traffic and was really pleased with how clean they came out, and that there wasn’t a tacky residue. Like I said, I like to be barefoot so that is important to me.

Oh, and those Jute rugs you ask about all the time… they have a dirty little secret.

They shed a very fine dust. And a lot of it. This diminishes over time, but this is my newest one so it’s still pretty bad. So they probably aren’t for everyone, but I love those rugs, so I’m willing to do the work and a bit of extra cleaning.

I flip up the ends of my big rugs to clean under them whenever I clean the rest of the floors. When I move my furniture around (which we all know is often) I take them outside for a good shake, and do a more thorough, complete cleaning.

Vacuuming alone doesn’t quite do the trick, but I found that a micro fiber cloth and a few squirts of the Orange Glo Everyday Cleaner got them “jute rug dust” free, and up to my standards. I used a cloth to get into the beveled edge groves where my rug was, and also for spot cleaning. For normal whole floor cleaning, I found that a micro fiber mop works super!

Overall, both Orange Glo products are really helping me get a handle on these floors of mine, and the Everyday Cleaner is designed for Laminate floors as well, so I’ve got that down at The Little Cottage now too.

Speaking of The Little Cottage, I don’t know if you recall my sharing this vintage buffet that the boys brought home the Summer before last, but it was a a bit needy. I decided to use it down in The Little Cottage great room, and just for the heck of it, I tried the Orange Glo Wood Furniture 2 in 1 Clean & Polish on it.

This is one of those pieces I was hesitant to paint, and now, I’m so, so glad I never did!

This is after a few sprays and being wiped down with a soft cloth.

It was the perfect candidate to try it out on! Besides a few scratches and some lifting veneer, she’s looking quite lustrous. The Orange Glo™ 2-in-1 Clean and Polish kind of did a soft-focus number on her flaws and made them less noticeable. Though in this case, some of her imperfections only add to her charm.

Polishing her, and that light orange scent, took me back to weekends at home growing up. We had several antique wood pieces, and Saturday was for chores. I was in charge of all the furniture dusting and polishing. I’m so glad that I grew up in a home where learning how to properly care for your belongings was taught.

I can’t wait to decorate & style this buffet up for Christmas now!! The whole guest cottage will be whipped into shape, and wearing it’s Christmas best when Austin comes home. I promise to share!!

My closing thoughts on our hardwood floors:

If you are considering wood floors, I’d suggest something lighter than the color we selected for easier maintenance. And if you want something more carefree, and in my opinion, more durable, look at laminate. I cleaned the floors down at The Little Cottage with the Everyday Cleaner, and they are ten years older than my hardwoods, but you’d never know it. They are both equally sparkling clean now… and I can most certainly live with that.

I love instant gratification. I think that must be why I love to clean so much. You put in a little work, and get a glowing, clean home to show for it!

I’m happy to report that my hardwood floors have not looked this good since we laid them. I’m kinda loving them again. Because for awhile, not to sound ungrateful… I was a little frustrated and not feeling very in love. I think now that I’ve got effective products, and a two part system in place, I’m going to be much happier!

xo Shannon

Disclosure – These are the results I experienced, using the products myself, in my own home. Please use your own best judgement when cleaning wood floors or furnishings.

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