Hardwood Floor Maintenance

A well-kept hardwood floor is a wonderful sight and makes a very elegant first impression. Keep your hardwood floors clean and impeccable for years with these helpful tips. A Vacuum is Best The bristles of a broom can cause permanent damage to the wood, and a mop's soapy water can warp and will likely discolor your floors. Vacuuming using suction only - not the rotating bristle - is the preferred method of keeping a hardwood floor healthy and clean. Be Quick with Spills Quickly clean any spills with a rag dampened in a little water. Once the liquid is pulled, run a dry towel over the affected area. If you catch spills quickly, you can avoid lasting damage. Walk in Socks Taking shoes off at the front door is a great way to keep dirt out of the house, and this practice is especially important on wood floors. Street shoes can leave hard-to-remove scuff marks. Remember, wood is a cellulose material. Even hard wood has limits to how much pressure per square inch it can handle without caving. So be kind to your organic floors by slipping on socks or slippers.

Use Felt Furniture Pads Felt furniture pads are an excellent way to protect your floors from accidental scratches. They are incredibly cheap and easy to replace if the adhesive stops sticking. Also, when rearranging furniture, choose to pick up rather than slide. Remember to lift with your knees! Keep on Shining You shouldn't need to wax hardwood floors more than once or twice a year. If your floors seem to be losing their luster, try buffing first. If your wood floors have a polyurethane finish, then recoat, do not wax. A high quality hardwood floor will last many decades if cared for properly. Do not cheat on cleaning supplies or use a cleaner that is not made specifically for hardwood floors.