Much like it does your car or home’s exterior, regular maintenance can make a considerable difference in the look, feel and general well-being of one of your home’s most noticeable attributes. Lucky for you, keeping your stairs in tip-top shape is generally easier, cheaper and less time-consuming than doing the same for your exterior paint job or your automotive pride and joy, and it doesn’t typically require professional assistance, either. Simply follow these easy steps (see what we did there?!) for a shiny, striking staircase free from dust, dents, dings and general damage.
Step 1: Clean ‘Em on the Regular
Most of the time, a simple sweep with a broom or a dust pan and brush will get the better part of the job done, and a vacuum or dust-buster can finish up the rest. You can, on occasion, apply a wood cleaner to your stairs, but be careful to find one intended for your specific type of finish to avoid causing undue harm. It’s also wise to promptly take care of any spills along the stairs to avoid warping or moisture-related damage.
Step 2: Do Away With Dings, Dents and Scratches
How much effort you’ll likely have to put into buffing out dents and dings depends largely on the extent of the damage on your stairs, but many smaller dents and scratches can be easily taken care of by simply applying a layer of protective wax on the flaw. For tougher, deeper scratches or dents, you may need to apply a stronger finish and tackle the job head-on using a little steel wool.
Step 3: Revamp With a Refinish
Due to the nature of their design and composition, wooden stairs, and particularly those that see heavy traffic, require a little refinishing now and then to keep them looking their best and lasting well into the future. Existing finishes can be removed by sanding (either by hand or with a power tool), and you should make sure to thoroughly clean them before applying a fresh new finish.
Step 4: Prevent Future Damage
Keep your shiny wooden stairs gleaming for the foreseeable future by limiting shoes in the house or by placing mats or rugs at all entrances to catch dirt, pebbles and other material that might scratch them. Prevent scratches further by wrapping any furniture in tape or blankets before moving it up or down the stairs, and make it a general rule to avoid wearing cleats, stiletto heels and other shoes that may cause further scratching.
Wooden stairs are built to last, but they’ll look a whole lot better down the line if you care for them properly from day one.