1. Cleaning vinyl floors

One of the most popular kitchen flooring materials is vinyl, and for good reason. Vinyl flooring is extremely water resistant against those inevitable spills or leaks. It’s durable too, able to resist dents, scuffs and stains. It’s also a way to get a timeless wood or stone look for less. Despite its durability and resistance, however, vinyl can still get dirty. Here are some tips for cleaning your vinyl floors:

Step One:

Sweep or vacuum to make sure everything is picked up from the floor.

Step Two:

Mop with warm water and vinegar or a cleaner designed for vinyl flooring.

Step Three:

For those pesky spots, use a soft towel to scrub with a water and dish soap combination.

Step Four:

Make sure to towel off any moisture and allow the floors to dry completely before walking on them.

Remember: Don’t use abrasive cleaners as they can damage the flooring.

2. Cleaning ceramic tile floors

Ceramic tiles make great kitchen floors because they’re extremely low maintenance. These tiles are shaped and then kiln fired to create a hard-wearing surface. Ceramic tiles are resilient and durable, making them perfect for flooring in high traffic rooms. Along with being a durable surface, ceramic tiles are easy to clean. Here are some tips:

Step One:

Sweep or vacuum at least once a week to keep the floor clear of grit and debris.

Step Two:

Mop regularly with warm water and a mild cleanser to get rid of dirt and spills.

Step Three:

After mopping, allow the floor to fully dry before you get cooking again.

3. Cleaning laminate floors

Laminate flooring is an option for homeowners who want the look of real hardwood flooring in their kitchen, but don’t want to worry as much about moisture damage. Laminate flooring is known to be one of the most durable and long lasting surfaces out there. However, appropriate maintenance and cleaning is necessary.

Here is how you can clean your laminate floor:

Step One:

Sweep, dust or vacuum the floor regularly.

Step Two:

Damp mop floor with a vinegar and warm water solution; while damp mopping, avoid any standing fluids on the floor.

Remember: Make sure not to use a vacuum with the beater bar attached because it can scratch the surface.

4. Cleaning marble floors

Though marble is durable, it can be stained and scratched if not maintained properly. Marble is long lasting, but it requires proper care to keep its beauty:

Step One:

For a light cleaning, the best option is to use a dust mop to sweep up dirt and debris – microfiber dust mops are ideal.

Step Two:

Vacuums should be used with care because the wheels can scratch the marble surface. Don’t use metal attachments.

Step Three:

For an even deeper clean, wet mop with a pH neutral soap.

Remember: Avoid harsh cleaners because acidic substances can corrode marble.

Other useful tips and tricks:

• Never allow spills to sit. The quicker you clean them up, the less likely they will penetrate the floor’s surface and stain.
• If you’re worried about liquid cleaner volume, opt for a spray bottle. That way, you can mist the solutions instead of pouring, which gives you more control.
• Use floor repair products like these to take care of dings, dents and chips on hard surfaces.
• Use doormats at all entrances to prevent the tracking in of dirt in the first place.

No matter what floor style you choose, if you follow hygienic practices, beauty can be low maintenance. The more consistent you are with cleaning, the longer your flooring will keep its appearance.

Do you have any tips for keeping a kitchen spotless?

Browse our selection of top quality flooring here.

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Dealing with pet messes in an inevitable part of being a dog or cat owner.

It happens to every pet owner at least once. You’re late getting home, and your pet couldn’t wait. Or maybe they got into the trash and wound up with an upset stomach and ensuing digestive chaos. Whatever the reason, don’t despair when your nose tells you Fido or Fifi made a mess on your new bamboo floors. Bamboo flooring is resilient and more water-resistant than hardwood floors, and with these quick cleaning tips your floors will look and smell as good as new in no time.

Step One: Blot, Don’t Rub

Of course, the first step in pet accident clean-up is carefully picking up any solid waste, whether it’s vomit or excrement. Use only soft, nonabrasive materials, such as paper towels, to pick up solids; don’t use a pooper-scooper or other tool to remove the waste. Although bamboo is durable, you want to avoid scratching the surface in any way.

Once you remove solids, blot remaining liquids or moisture with paper towels. Resist the urge to rub the spot, because this will just push the mess into the grain of your bamboo floor. The best method is just to layer a few paper towels over the wet spot, and remove and replace them as they get saturated.

Step Two: Avoid Commercial Floor Cleaners

When the mess and moisture are gone, you’ll probably want to clean the area thoroughly. But avoid commercial cleaning products because they often contain harsh chemicals that can damage your bamboo floor. Definitely avoid anything alkaline or that contains floor wax, as well as anything with an oily base, because this will stain your bamboo floors. In most cases, just a simple damp mop or sponge is the best way to clean your bamboo floor.

Step Three: Deal With Odors

Let’s face it, many pet messes leave lingering smells, even after you clean them up. This is especially true if the urine has dried before you find it or get home to deal with it, or if a cat, especially a male cat, made the mess.

Believe it or not, your best weapon against nasty pet mess smells on bamboo floors is probably in your pantry right now. White vinegar is a natural disinfectant and odor remover, and it can be used on bamboo floors. A one-quarter cup white vinegar per one quart of water solution is a safe and effective alternative to commercial cleaners and deodorizers; you can also use hardwood floor cleaners. Use a spray bottle to apply a thin film to the area, or rest a slightly damp sponge soaked in the vinegar solution on the stain for a few minutes, and then wipe it dry with soft paper towels.

If you have pets and bamboo floors, pet messes aren’t your only concern. Be sure to keep your dog’s or cat’s nails well-trimmed to avoid scratches, and sweep and mop your floors regularly, especially if your pet tracks in mud and dirt after a walk. A little maintenance and prevention will help keep your bamboo floors looking beautiful for years.

What steps do you take to keep your floors looking clean?

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Wash them with your deck

Whenever you clean your deck, also get the railings. This should happen a couple of times a year with a few spot-cleaning sessions in between. Doing both at the same time makes getting all the corners easier, helps you remember to get the railings, and ensures both deck components look the same – if one has more dirt than the other, you may be able to see the difference.

Start from the bottom up

When you do wash your railings, begin the process near the base and work your way up. This method prevents you from splattering the cleaning solution on a dry area of your railing. Some cleaning solutions can discolor wood decks if splashed on a dry spot. Working bottom up ensures that the areas below are wet, so cleaning solution is less likely to leave marks.

By this same logic, wash your deck before hitting the railings but make sure to dampen the railing during this process. That way, just about anything you could splatter with cleaners will be safe.

No matter what material your deck railing is made of, you can keep it in good shape season after season.

Clean with the right supplies

Deck railings come in a variety of materials, including wood, composite, aluminum and vinyl. The panels can also be made of glass. Each material responds best to a certain kind of cleaning solution and routine. Here are various railing materials and how to safely clean them:

Wood
You can use a wood deck cleaner to wash wood railings and balusters. Follow the directions on your product – some require the deck to be dry while others say to wash a wet deck. If the wood has to be wet, spray the railing with a garden hose set to a gentle spray. You can use a scrub brush to clean your railing.

Composite 
Either use a cleaner formulated for composite decking or mild soap and water to wash this type of railing. If you notice grease on your railing (touching the railing after eating greasy foods can spread grime), use a standard degreaser to remove the mark.

Aluminum
Wipe aluminum deck railings with a damp cloth. Add mild detergent to warm water and use the mixture to wash the rail. Rinse it off with your garden hose and let dry.

Vinyl
Vinyl requires little maintenance. Simply rinse with a garden hose to get rid of dust. You can use a deck scrubber and water to remove built-up dirt. Rinse when you’re done scrubbing.

Glass
Your deck railing will only have glass as panels, not as supports. In which case, you’ll have to wash two materials: supports and glass panels. Follow cleaning instructions for the other material, and use a glass cleaner to get rid of smudges on the glass.

With all of these materials, try to wash your railings on a sunny day. This helps the material dry quickly, preventing water from standing on your material. Additionally, avoid using strong cleaning chemicals, such as acetone, to wash your railings.

“Twice a year, thoroughly inspect your railings.”

Check for signs of wear

Outdoor materials face a lot of weather conditions that can cause marks and erosion over time. From rain to snow to wind to debris, the elements toss a lot at your deck railings. Twice a year, thoroughly inspect your railings (along with the rest of your deck). Fall and spring are ideal times to do this, as it will give you the opportunity to prepare your railings for winter and repair any damage caused by the winter season. Here are some issues you should look for:

• Rusted screws or nails
• Cracks
• Discoloration
• Debris
• Loose or wobbly railings

Each of these issues is pretty common and occurs as a result of being outside and used regularly. What’s more, they’re easy to fix. Simply replace rusted screws and nails. Minor cracks in wood railings can be fixed with exterior-grade wood filler. Sweep and clean debris. Add blocks to the deck’s rim joist to make loose railings more secure. If you spot discoloration, choose the proper stain remover for your railing material and follow the instructions.

Use best practices

Aside from regularly cleaning your deck railings and checking them for damage, you should use them with care to prevent other issues. Here are some tips for everyday use that will keep your railings in good shape:

• Don’t lean heavy objects against the railing
• Don’t pressure wash deck railings
• Remove debris (such as bird droppings or fallen leaves) as soon as you notice it
• Be careful not to knock objects into glass railings

Keeping your deck railings in great shape is easy. By using these care and maintenance tips regularly, your deck railings will serve you from one season to the next.

How often do you clean your deck or patio?

Browse our selection of quality Deck Railings here. Find the style that’s right for your outdoor space.

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Tools & Materials

• Scraper
• Adhesive remover
• Sandpaper
• Power Sander
• Power buffer
• Buffing towel
• Wood putty
• Latex filler
• Wood Stain
• Sealer

Step One: Scrape off the residue.

Step Two: Remove the stains.

Step Three: Fill the holes.

Step Four: Sand the floor.

Step Five: Stain & finish.

For an in-depth look at how you can restore your hardwood floors, check out the infographic below:

And there you have it! Now you’re just 5 steps away from bringing your own hardwood floors back to life. But remember, if the manufacturer of your flooring has made special recommendations for the maintenance of your product, be sure to follow those carefully.

What steps do you take to keep your hardwood floors looking like new? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments section below!

Looking to install new hardwood floor instead? Click here to browse our selection of premium quality hardwood flooring. Add a sense of hominess and warmth to your space.

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Wash dirt and debris

“Avoid scratching deck tiles by only using soft sponges.”

Because your deck tiles are outdoors, they’re exposed to the elements and will collect dirt and debris, from tracked mud to fallen leaves. Fortunately, cleaning off your deck tiles is easy. Simply wash the area with mild soap and water. If you’re concerned that the soap is too harsh, gently work a small amount into a corner of the tile just to see how the chemical impacts it. If no discoloration occurs, you can use the soap on your entire deck.

You can scrub with a mop that has a sponge head. Avoid scratching the tiles by only using a soft, spongy surface. After mopping, rinse with a garden hose.

Clean grease and oil

Spills happen, especially if you entertain friends and family on your deck with backyard grilling parties. If you drop greasy, oily foods or other substances on your deck tiles, clean them up right away. Fast action can help prevent staining.

First wipe up the source of the grease. Then wash with a gentle sponge or cloth, and soap and water. If the oil persists, you can clean it using a decking stain remover. Always be sure to read the label to make sure you pick a stain remover that’s compatible with your decking. Additionally, test the stain remover on a small area first, noting any discoloration. Should you see an issue, don’t use that cleaner and find another.

Tannin leaching

As with all wood-based products, wood and composite deck tiles are susceptible to tannin leaching. A tannin is a natural preservative that occurs in all wood and many species of plants. When this organic substance comes in contact with iron in a wet environment, it can turn your wood a darker color. This is called tannin leaching. Prevent this by keeping iron furniture off your deck and sweeping leaves right away, as they contain trace amounts of iron that could interact with the wood.

If a stain occurs, you can remove it. While sanding normally works for wood, it’s not advisable to sand deck tiles. Instead, you may treat the deck with oxalic or phosphoric acid, though you might want a professional to do the job. Oxalic and phosphoric acid are tough deck brighteners.

It’s important to note that some tannin leaching is normal for wood-based deck tiles as they are made from natural materials.

Scuffs, rust and other stains

You can leave scuffs from dragging your shoes while walking on deck tiles, moving furniture or otherwise pulling something over the material. Most of the time, these marks will eventually vanish on their own. However, if a scuff or abrasion persists, apply a deck brightener.

Also use a deck brightener to treat stains caused by rust, ground-in dirt, etc.

Sweep your deck tile regularly to prevent leaves from staining it.

Mold and mildew

Most deck tile materials resist the growth of mold and mildew, but about twice a year, you should thoroughly clean your deck tiles to further protect them from this type of damage. Spring and fall are popular times to wash the deck, as the weather is nice and most homeowners do large cleaning projects anyway.

When you do deep clean your deck, it’s often recommended to wash it with a deck cleaner that contains sodium hypochlorite. You can find that in the ingredients list. Always follow the instructions on your chosen cleaner.

Salt and winter

If you use salt to melt ice and snow on your deck, be sure to clean it off when spring arrives. The salt can leave marks if left too long. Additionally, be careful when shoveling ice and snow. Do not push the shovel into the tiles, but move parallel to the surface instead. You can use a plastic shovel in place of a metal one, as it’s less likely to damage the tiles.

Other tips

In addition to treating scuffs and stains, and regularly cleaning your deck tiles, you can use these tips to help maintain the material:

• Never use a pressure washer, as it can harm the deck.
• Keep a couple extra, unused tiles on hand to use for testing deck cleaners and brighteners – if the chemical stains the tile, you know not to use it on your deck.
• Avoid sanding – marks left by sanding aren’t covered under certain warranties.

With these tips and tricks, you’ll keep your new deck tiles in excellent condition.

How often do you clean your deck or patio?

Click here to browse our online selection of DIY-friendly deck tiles. Expand your outdoor living possibilities.

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1. For the day-to-day cleaning of your hardwood floors, use a soft, fine bristle broom to sweep up dirt and grit.
2. You can also vacuum your hardwood floors a couple times a week. Use a soft brush as an attachment.
3. Prevent debris from coming onto your hardwood floor by placing mats and rugs at all entrances.
4. Rugs should also be used to cover high-traffic areas; move them periodically if exposed to regular sunlight to ensure the UV rays don’t unevenly fade or change the color of the wood and/or stain.
5. Avoid water and remember that moisture should not come in contact with the floor. Water can damage hardwood, causing irreversible problems like staining, cupping, and buckling.
6. Wipe up spills immediately with a lightly dampened cloth, then follow up with a recommended cleaning product. If liquids are allowed to sit on the floor, they can seep into the wood, causing the finish to split and your floors to warp. While it may be possible for hardwood to be installed in areas like laundry rooms and kitchens, extra care must be taken for any spills that may occur.
7. Oil soaps should not be used as they can leave a residue on the floor. Neutral pH based wood floor cleaners can be used when cleaning hardwood floors. Make sure you dry the floors right away.

Along with these tips, it’s always best to follow the specific manufacturer recommendations for your hardwood floor.

Click here to take a look at our online selection of timeless hardwood flooring. Discover the right look for your next renovation.

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Maintaining engineered hardwood flooring is a painless process, as long as it is a part of your regular cleaning routine. To avoid potential damage, it’s important to keep your floors as free of dirt, debris and spills as possible. These simple tips on engineered hardwood care will help you retain the original look of your floor for many years to come.

Engineered hardwood flooring is made from wood. Because of this, it requires almost the same cleaning methods as any other type of wood flooring. Check out the steps below for taking excellent care of your engineered floors.

Engineered Wood Plank Care Tips & Techniques

Keep your engineered flooring swept, clean, and dry on a daily basis. This will keep mopping to a minimum and prevent abrasive particulates from scratching the surface.

Use either a vacuum cleaner with a soft flooring attachment, or a broom. A vacuum beater bar can cause scratches and damage to engineered hardwood. If you can’t get away from using a beater bar, make sure to set your vacuum to the bare floor setting.

Use a dry microfiber dust mop to pick up dirt and debris from the floor. Microfiber is perfect for gathering dirt and dust without the risk of surface damage.

Spills must be wiped up as soon as they occur. Excessive water or liquid can cause irreversible damage to engineered hardwood flooring. To avoid this, be sure not to mop up any pools of liquid and not let them sit. It is best to dry mop with a clean cloth when you fishing washing the floor.

Keep mats and rugs at entranceways. This will keep pebbles, dirt, moisture, grains of sand, fragments of glass, and debris out of the house and off of the floor. It will also help you avoid scratches, keeping the upper wear layer and finish of your floor safe and intact for a longer period of time.

Watch what shoes you wear indoors. Avoid walking on your floors with high heeled shoes or shoes with spikes because they can cause severe damage to the upper wear layer of the floor.

Avoid using harsh cleaners. Wax-based cleaners, powerful detergents, or steel wool should not be used to clean engineered hardwood flooring. For the best results, use manufacturer-recommended liquid cleaners.

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How to patch vinyl flooring

Vinyl tile flooring: Vinyl tiles come in smaller squares that are often easy to replace. If one of your tiles is discolored or scraped, all you have to do is remove it and replace it with another matching tile. Use a putty knife to dig into the seam. Then, tap its back end with a hammer to help the tool shimmy under the tile. Carefully lift the tile, using the knife to scrape areas where it’s stuck. Once the tile is gone, remove the glue with a floor stripper. Apply the new tile.From stains to dents to lifted seams, vinyl flooring can sustain some damage over time. Luckily, it’s all rather simple to fix. The techniques you can employ to administer repairs depend on what the damage is and the kind of vinyl flooring you have.

Patching: Sheet vinyl is a little more difficult to repair than tiles, which are smaller. Sheets have a bigger surface area, so simply replacing them isn’t always an option. Instead, you can use the patching method. First, identify the damaged area and box it in with tape. Then, find a piece of vinyl not attached to your floor (leftovers from your installation) and look for a section that matches perfectly to the damaged area. Cut a square out of the floor and the replacement. Adhere the replacement in the hole you cut out. Make sure the patterns match up perfectly, or you’ll notice the patch. Additionally, use a very sharp knife and straightedge to do all the cutting.

How to restore vinyl flooring

When the finish on your vinyl flooring no longer shines, it’s time to give it a facelift. This is an easy fix, as you only have to apply new finish to your floors. Here are a few ways to revitalize your vinyl:

Refinish: If your vinyl floors have a finish on top, you can bring its shine back to life with a suitable finishing product. Floors with five or more layers of finish need to be stripped. Use a stripping solution made for vinyl floors, following the instructions verbatim. Most products will have you mop with the stripper and let the floor dry. Then you’ll scrub the vinyl with a stripping pad, apply stripper again and rinse. After that, vacuum your floors with a wet vac​, then a dry vac. Mop the new finish on your floors and let the product dry. Buff the floors between each coat.

Floor shiner: Most newer, luxury vinyl floors won’t require a drastic facelift, like refinishing. Instead, you can purchase floor products meant to deep clean and restore the surface. If your floors lack shine, you might need to adjust your maintenance habits. Stick to a pH-neutral cleaner, as alkaline solutions strip vinyl of its wax finish. Proper cleaners should help floors retain their glossy finish.

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When your vinyl flooring is totally installed, you may step back and experience a couple of things: First, you’ll probably awe at the work you’ve done and be proud of the final result. Second, you could look at the dust and glue that remains and lament the task still before you. However, just as installing vinyl flooring is pretty simple, so too is clearing the aftermath. Here are some tips on how to clean your new Vinyl Floor:

How to Remove Excess Glue to Clean Vinyl Flooring

Depending on the method of installation, different types of vinyl flooring come with their own distinct cleaning challenges. If you used vinyl flooring products that did not have glueless click lock installation system or an adhesive back, meaning you had to apply glue yourself, excess amounts could leak to the surface. You might see glue between your seams and want to get rid of it – glue isn’t as pretty as your new floors are. Here’s how to safely remove glue so you don’t ding or dent your beautiful floors:

Gather proper tools: You’ll need a scraper, a squirt bottle and solution to get rid of that glue. The solution can be floor stripper or acetone-based nail polish remover. Acetone chemicals help loosen the glue. Other homeowners have even used mineral spirits to assist in cleanup.

Spray the floor: Put your stripping solution into a squirt water bottle, then spray a bit on the glue you want to remove. The spray bottle gives you control over the liquid. It’s always a good idea to spot test the solution on an inconspicuous section of your vinyl floor to avoid potential damage. If you want to be extra careful, you can pour some on a cloth and dab the glue patches. If you’re using a product specifically made for cleaning floors, make sure to read the manufacturer’s directions for mixing and usage.

Scrape carefully: After your chosen solution has sat for a few minutes (the solution you use will impact the time), grab your scraper. You’ll use it to remove the glue. Place the edge of the scraper against the glue and push it horizontally. Avoid applying downward pressure, as this can damage your new floors. You may have to push the handle a bit to get the glue to budge, though the cleaning solution should help.

Clean with water: After all the glue is removed from your floor, you should rinse the space with water. That way, your floor will be free of cleaning chemicals. You can dampen a cloth and wipe it over your tiles so you don’t have standing water. Finally, dry the ground with another towel. You can also do a full mop if you want – you may have to anyway after tracking dirt during the installation process.

How to Clear Dust and Debris

Although you will have cleaned your room before installing vinyl flooring, you should clean Vinyl flooring afterward as well. Placing the product could stir up some dust. Getting rid of dirt is much easier than removing glue.

Sweep or vacuum: You can use a regular old broom to sweep away dust, but you may find vacuuming easier. Use a hose attachment that has bristles. That way, you won’t scratch your vinyl floors.

Mop: When working on your vinyl floor installation, you may have worn work boots and tracked mud on the ground. You can clean the surface with a mop. Most vinyl products are very water-resistant, so wet-mopping is OK to do on your new floor. Mix water with a household floor cleaner. Opt for a gentle product to keep your vinyl floors in good shape.

In the future, you can care for and clean your vinyl kitchen floor with a broom, vacuum or mop. Maintenance for this flooring product is very simple, which is why it’s so popular with homeowners.

Vinyl floor installation is easy compared to other products, so cleaning up should be a cinch.

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It’s important to understand the reason for the squeak before making the decision to fix it. A squeaky hardwood floor is usually caused by floorboards becoming loose. The loose floorboards will either rub together and make the squeaking noise or rub against the subfloor. Loose floor boards that can be felt beneath one’s feet is a floor that is bad disrepair and should be repaired immediately.

 Options for Fixing a Squeaky Floor

There are a few options for fixing squeaky floorboards depending on the severity of the squeak and the ability to get to the source of the squeakiness. Getting at the floorboards can be more difficult than it seems and should require patience and proper planning.

Add Lubrication

One quick fix for squeaky floors that will extend the time between needing a more permanent fix is to apply a lubricant between the subfloor and floorboards, or whatever may be causing the squeak. Powdered graphite or talcum powder both are excellent options for lubricating squeaky floorboards.

Sprinkle the powder over the squeaky floorboards. To help the lubricant seep into the floorboards, reactivate the squeaks by walking over the floorboards. You will likely need to repeat the process until the squeaking has subsided. Keep in mind that using a lubricant to quiet a squeaky hardwood floor may not be a permanent fix; you may need to do future applications of lubricant, or you can work at ending squeaky floorboards for good.

Replace Loose or Missing Nails

Nails that have become loose or not having enough nails in a board are other possible reasons for squeaky hardwood floors. If you have access to the subfloor, such as through a basement or crawl space, then you can check for missing nails or nails that were not hammered in properly to see if this could be the root of your problem. You can then clip them with diagonal cutters or properly drive new nails into the floor joists so the floorboards no longer rub against each other.

Add Shims

However, this may not be the fix you need. Once again, if you have access to the subfloor and can visibly see the floorboards, have someone walk across the squeaky area of the floor so that you can see exactly what is causing the squeak. Shims can be hammered into place in order to resolve gaps between the floor boards and subfloor.

Add Extra Support Underneath

Other possible reasons for a squeaky hardwood floor may have to do with poor support or insufficient bridging. In both cases, it may be necessary to insert additional bridging supports or nail blocks to provide added support and fix any sagging from the subfloor or floorboards. You’ll need to measure the exact spacing you’ll need for the bridge support as well as the nail blocks.

When you’re driving nails or screws in from the subfloor, you want the screw or nail to reach the main floorboard – but not to go all the way through and poke out the top. Be careful to choose screws and nails that aren’t too long. Square-drive screws or drywall screws are appropriate screws that will reach the surface floor but not go through the surface.

Fixing Squeaks from Above

Of course, being able to work from the subfloor up has its advantages, but you might not be able to get to the subfloor. In the case of finished ceiling, or if your hardwood floor is covered over with carpeting, it may be necessary to peel back the carpet and work from the top and countersink screws and nails into the boards.

It can be tricky to get the screws or nails in at the correct angle. Measure carefully to ensure you’re at the right angle to meet the wood joists. If you’re unsure about driving nails or screws in from the top of the hardwood floor, carpenter’s glue and a putty knife is also an acceptable solution. Squirt carpenter’s glue in between floor boards and work it in with a putty knife. Place a weight over the area you applied glue to and let it dry. It may be necessary to add additional glue after drying to ensure a proper filling.

While some of these options may rid you of squeaky hardwood, there is the possibility that new squeaks will arise or the fixes you put into place do not fully quiet the hardwood floor. As floors age and the wood dries out, some squeaks will be unavoidable.

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