You just moved into your dream home and the floors are immaculate. You can’t wait to entertain. Shiny new hardwood floors light up the place and add such warmth; it makes you happy to call this place home. But now what? How do you keep them that way? Here are a few guidelines you can follow to help maintain your floors’ lasting beauty and keep their appeal throughout the years.
1. Choose The Right Products
Though it seems like a difficult job, your finished hardwood floors can be maintained with minimal effort. The trick here is simply knowing what to use to clean them. Be sure to only purchase products that are specifically formulated and designed for hardwood floors. If you still aren’t sure, you can always check to see what your manufacturer’s care instructions recommend.
2. Hold The Water
Avoid direct contact with water when mopping your hardwood floors. If used incorrectly, you can permanently damage the life of your nice finished hardwood flooring.
3. Don’t Be A Drag
One thing that’s rather common in damaging your precious hardwood floors is furniture. If you aren’t careful, moving it around can scratch, scrape, and gouge nicks onto the surface. Ouch! To add additional protection, use felt contacts on the legs of furniture like couches and tables. You’ll thank us later.
4. Take Off Your Shoes
Think about all the dirt and grit the bottoms of your shoes collect throughout the day. Common scratches and scrapes on hardwood floors come from you unknowingly bringing that grit into the house. It can be especially bad in high-traffic areas. To prevent that, take your shoes off as soon as you get in the door. You’ve had a hard day, you deserve to relax. Your floors do, too.
5. Keep It Clean
Create a cleaning schedule that works for you. It will help to cut down on dirt and particle buildup that can ultimately scratch the wood’s surface.
6. Dust Daily
It may be one of the easiest steps in the process, but dust mopping can reduce the dirt, dust, hair and pet dander that may be in your home.
7. The Floor Mat Is Your Friend
Whether placed at the entrance to your place or in the kitchen by the sink, a floor mat is your best friend. They’re extremely versatile and can do everything from keeping the bottom of your shoes dry on a rainy day to catching the small sticky spills that happen in the kitchen. It’s an extra layer of protection that helps keep your floors in great shape.
