Cork floors are great for the environment, and they provide a soft feel underfoot and are somewhat soundproof. Derived from the bark of cork trees, these benefit the environment because the trees grow back their bark after it is stripped, so the trees do not have to be cut down to manufacture this product. Cork floor is also cheaper than a lot of materials used to make floors. Taking good care of your cork floor will ensure its durability and quality.
Avoid spilling liquids or abrasive chemicals on it. Periodically, it needs to be cleaned. To do this, you need to first sweep it with a soft bristled broom. A coarse broom will scratch the surface, something you will want to avoid. The only cleaner that should be used on a cork floor is warm water and dish soap. Fill a regular mop bucket half full with water and a small amount of liquid dish soap. Too much soap will leave a film or residue behind, which you don’t want because it doesn’t look good, and it can be a falling hazard. Stir it around with a sponge or a mop. Take your sponge or mop and clean the entire floor, paying special attention to any dirt or stains. After you are finished, you should let it air dry for an hour. To speed up the drying process, you can wring out your mop or sponge and run it across the floor, watching in particular for any areas that are especially wet. Alternately, you can take a dry cleaning cloth and wipe up any excess water. If any soapy film has been left behind, wet the rag slightly and wipe it up, letting it air dry.
Some preventative measures that you can take in order to properly take care of your cork board is to not scoot any furniture or decorations when moving them. Instead, lift them up and carry them or use what are called “magic sliders” to prevent further damage. The only downside to having a cork floor is how easily it can be scratched, but mild surface scratches can be reduced or removed by using the soap and water method described above. Never spill drinks or food items on the floor, and if any spills do occur, take a wet wash rag and clean them up right away before they become absorbed into the floor.
If you have potted plants, fishbowls or other water containers in your room, consider putting a drip pan underneath them in case of leaks or spillage. In addition, if the original shine and luster of your floor is fading, a good acrylic sealer can be applied to the floor and is highly recommended. You can either do this by hand, which is probably the best way, or you can gently use a floor buffer. If you have water stains anywhere on your floor from previous leaks or spills, you can reduce the visibility of these by using a little bit of soap and water. It is best to do this by hand for individual spots. The worst thing you can do to your floor is to scratch it by being careless when moving furniture or pulling a chair out to sit down. However, even the worst scratches can be made to be less obvious by some gentle rubbing with a wet rag. If you take good care of it, your cork floor will provide years of use. The softness, relative cheapness and availability of the material, and the sound dampening quality of this type of flooring makes it ideal for almost any room in the house.
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