How to Care for Your Hardwood Floor Investment

How To Take Care of Your Hardwood Floors

Alright, so you invested your money into some new hardwood floors. The color is beautiful and will add a lot of value to your house if you ever decide to sell. Now how do you take care of your investment?

That beauty comes with an effort, however, and hardwood floors can require a lot of work to maintain. The flooring can take quite a beating between discoloration, water damage and scratches. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to prevent this damage and to fix it if it has already happened. Here are some “do’s” and “don’ts” for your hardwood floors.

“Do’s”

• Do Quickly Wipe Up Spills – If you don’t clean up spills quickly, it can cause irreparable water damage to the floors. As a preventative measure, try putting down a rug in areas of the house where spills happen often. Just don’t forget to move the rugs around so that the wood changes color evenly.
• Do Use Contacts on Furniture – It is important to use felt contacts on the bottom of furniture when moving them around. This while prevent scratches on the hardwood. You should even keep felt contacts on the furniture while they are stationary.
• Do Protect Floors from Sunlight – According to Wikihow, sunlight can cause discoloration to your flooring. Cover your windows with blinds or drapes to protect from the sun’s rays. Exposure should be limited, even though some is inevitable.
• Do Use Hardwood Cleaner – You should use a cleaner made for hardwood floors. Other cleaners can cause damage to your floors. Most vendors will have cleaners for hardwood clearly labeled. It is preferable to use a microfiber cloth while mopping to prevent scratches in the floor.
• Do Form a Cleaning Schedule – Making a schedule for cleaning can help you remember to regularly clean. Regular vacuuming is important to keep dust and dirt from scratching the finish. Even tiny pieces of dirt and dust can damage the floor when they are walked on. That’s why vacuuming is preferable to sweeping. It cleans between the planks, where sweeping doesn’t reach.

“Don’ts”

• Don’t Wet Mop – If you mop with too much moisture the liquid will warp and discolor the floor. Make sure that you wring out your cleaning equipment thoroughly. It is best if there is barely any dampness left when cleaning the flooring.
• Don’t Use Vinyl or Tile Cleaners – These cleaners will not work as a substitute for a hardwood cleaner. According to The National Wood Flooring Association, vinyl and tile cleaners dull the finish on the floor. It will need to be sanded and repaired.
• Don’t Wear Sharp Shoes – Sharp shoes or stiletto heels will scratch the wood as well. The best solution is to take your shoes off at the door.

Sometimes even when you do everything right the floors can still be harmed. On top of accidents, normal wear and tear does a number on your flooring. In some cases, you might need to call in a professional to repair certain damages. With a little bit of care, though, you can keep your floors looking beautiful.