The Dos and Don'ts of Maintaining your Wood Hardwood Floors

Today's wood hardwood floors are tough and durable. They are easy to maintain for a long time with a little effort and prevention. Apart from the manufacturer's recommendations and the installer's suggestion, the following guidelines will help preserve the flooring along with its finish and beauty.

• First and the foremost, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for care and maintenance of your wood hardwood floors.

• Clean your wood hardwood floors on a weekly basis doing vacuuming, dusting and moping with a damp mop, if required.

• Prevent your wood hardwood floors from any exposure to water in small or large quantities.

• Keep door mats at the entrances to prevent sand, grit, debris, and dirt from coming onto the floor. These elements can damage the finish of the floor.

• Place rugs to prevent or delay wear. Move these rugs occasionally to provide oxygen and bleaching to the hardwood floors. It also allows the floor to age evenly.

• Insert cork pads or plastic/fabric-faced glides under the legs of your furniture to help prevent scratching.

• Allow standing water on your wood hardwood floors.

• Apply finish to a wood floor that has already been finished at the factory.

• Over-wax a wax floor. If the floor finish dulls, try buffing instead to restore the shine.

• Wax a wood floor that has been coated with a urethane or polyurethane finish.

• Wear cleats, hiking shoes or shoes with either spikes or athletic heels on the floor. Such sharp objects can cause dents and scratches to the flooring surface.

• Move furniture across the floor without place felt pads, rubber sheets or paper cartons. Scratches and scuffs will be prevented if moved with the help of these items.