FEATURE: CLEANING & LAUNDRY FIVE EXPERT TIPS FOR BEAUTIFUL
HARDWOOD FLOORS Keeping a hardwood floor looking its best doesn’t have to be a chore. With the right routine, wood floors can remain stunning through daily life. Ahead of the spring-cleaning season, we look at five tips for keeping hardwood floors looking fabulous.
1. Sweep and vacuum regularly Dust, grit and debris can act like sandpaper on wood floors. Regular sweeping with a soft broom, or vacuuming with soft wheels and a parquet brush, helps prevent surface scratches and keeps your floors looking clean and smooth.
2. Clean with care When it’s time for a more thorough clean, use a slightly damp microfibre mop and a cleaner specifically recommended for hardwood. Avoid soaking your floor with excess water. While Amato, Cala and Cascada Quick-Step real wood floors are 100% waterproof, others may not have the equivalent built-in protective coating.
3. Address stains promptly Everyday spills are inevitable, but acting quickly helps protect
chairs with soft wheels. These steps reduce everyday abrasion and help maintain a pristine wood surface.
About Quick-Step
the finish. Quick-Step’s cleaners, including specialised stain removers, make it easy to tackle common messes like mud, ink or food spills without harming the wood surface.
4. Protect and refresh with annual oiling
For oiled wood floors, applying a maintenance oil once a year (or as needed) revitalises the finish,
enhances the wood’s natural beauty and repairs minor wear. Follow product instructions carefully for the best results.
5. Prevent scratches and wear before they start Simple preventative measures make a big difference: always lift furniture instead of dragging it, fit felt pads under chair and table legs, place doormats at entrances and choose
Quick-Step is a quality flooring brand produced by Unilin. On-going research and innovation along with a strong focus on quality have made Quick-Step one of the top players in the flooring industry. The brand, known for its glueless Uniclic installation system, has evolved from being an affordable alternative to wood to a category in its own right, bringing a wide variety of design floors that are swift and easy to install and maintain in every situation. Today, Quick-Step is a global engineered wood, laminate and luxury vinyl flooring brand active in over 100 countries.
• Visit
quick-step.co.uk for more.
Experts warn that common winter culprits from mulled wine to road salt residue can permanently stain popular outdoor materials including natural stone, concrete, block paving, tarmac, decking and garden furniture, often soaking in before homeowners even notice. “Winter stains are often more damaging than summer ones,” explains Alex Essex, managing director at Patio Black Spot Removal Company. “Low temperatures, moisture and freeze- thaw cycles allow contaminants to penetrate deeper into surfaces, making stains harder to remove and accelerating long-term deterioration.”
Mulled wine, port and other dark winter drinks contain strong pigments, sugars and acids that are especially harmful to porous surfaces. To treat it safely, experts
recommend blotting immediately, rinsing with warm water, and applying a baking soda paste to draw out pigments before gently scrubbing.
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COMMON WINTER STAINS THAT CAN PERMANENTLY DAMAGE OUTDOOR SURFACES As homeowners may begin
Antifreeze leaks and car fluid drips are common on driveways during winter and can leave vivid, stubborn stains. Absorbent materials such as cat litter should be applied immediately to soak up excess liquid, followed by a stone-safe degreaser used sparingly. Salt brought in on shoes, tyres
or spread directly onto paths can leave white staining, surface erosion and long-term damage. Regular rinsing during milder winter days and avoiding excessive salt use can significantly reduce damage. Overflowing bins, split bags and tipped wheelie bins often leak dark, foul-smelling liquid that is highly concentrated and acidic. Immediate rinsing, followed by a pH-neutral outdoor cleaner, is essential. Leaving it untreated can result in stains that resurface repeatedly. Winter power cuts and cold starts
increase the use of generators, heaters and vehicles, raising the risk of fuel and oil spills. Absorption is key, sprinkling absorbent powder before cleaning helps prevent the stain from spreading.
to prepare lawns for spring and summer, fertilisers and moss killers are increasingly being applied during late winter, often spilling onto patios, paths and driveways. Granular fertilisers are particularly problematic when crushed underfoot and spread across paving, where rain and frost help drive the residue deeper into porous materials.
Experts say outdoor surfaces
are particularly vulnerable in winter because constant moisture, frost and reduced evaporation time allow contaminants to linger and soak in more deeply than during warmer months.
Specialists recommend several
preventative steps to protect patios and driveways throughout winter: • Act immediately on spills, even if staining isn’t visible yet.
• Avoid aggressive chemicals that can react badly with cold, damp stone.
• Rinse surfaces during mild weather to remove salt, grime and residues.
• Place mats near entrances to
reduce salt and fluid transfer indoors and outdoors.
• Apply a high-quality sealant before winter to create a protective barrier against liquids and freeze damage. “People often think winter damage is unavoidable,” says Essex. “But most permanent staining we see could have been prevented with faster action and better awareness.”
• Visit https://
patioblackspotremoval.com for more information.
FEBRUARY 2026 DIY WEEK 21
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