Taking Care of Your Hardwood Floors

It is difficult to beat the beauty of hardwood flooring. Hardwood floor installation is a great upgrade to your home, but these floors require extra care that other flooring does not. To protect your floors and keep them looking fantastic, you need to shield them from scratches, moisture, sun and harsh chemicals.

Hardwood floors may seem like they are difficult to scratch, but many things can mar the surface if you are not careful. Keep pets’ nails trimmed so that they do not scuff the floor as they scurry through the room. Sweep or vacuum the floors regularly so that the dirt from people’s shoes does not get ground into the floor where it can wear the surface over time. Lift furniture to move it rather than scraping it along the floor. Place felt pads on the bottom of furniture to not only prevent scratching but also keep the furniture from denting the floor over time.

When contractors complete a hardwood floor installation, they will often advise their customers to protect the floors from moisture and excessive sunlight. Avoid cleaning with conventional mops, and wipe up spills immediately. Prolonged exposure to moisture will cause the floor to warp or buckle. Over time, the UV rays from the sun can discolor your hardwood floors, so it’s a good idea to use rugs in areas that receive a lot of sunlight.

When mopping, use cleaners that are specially formulated for hardwood floors. Other cleaners are abrasive and are likely to strip the finish off the floor, damaging its look and making it vulnerable to other dangers. When in doubt, consult the contractor who installed your floors for suggestions.

Hardwood floors are beautiful, and they can remain that way for a long time if you take care of them. Follow these tips and other instructions from your hardwood floor installation specialist so that you can enjoy your floors for years to come.