How to Prevent Damage to Wood Floors

Genuine wood flooring is a huge investment. If you are thinking of installing wood flooring or have wood floors that you want to keep beautiful follow these simple steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Vacuum with hard floor attachment
• Cloth strip mop
• Felt floor protectors
• Floor mats

1. Dirt and grit are some of your wood floor's greatest enemies. Tiny hard bits can scratch your wood finish when they are dragged across the floor by shoes or pushed around with duster type mops. Try to keep shoes off of your wood floor if you can. Put mats at entrances to catch dirt.
2. Vacuum your wood floor frequently with a soft brush. Never use a vacuum with a beater bar on your wood floor as it will cause dents and scratches.
3. Water is another enemy of wood and can remove finish and warp boards. Clean your wood floor only when it really needs it using a cloth strip mop with the water rung out so it is barely damp. Dry the floor after washing.
4. Do not use cleaning products on your wood floor. Cleaning products remove finish and leave a filmy coating. Even some cleaners advertised as safe for use on wood may not be. Oil soaps are especially harmful. A barely damp mop with plain water or water with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of white vinegar should clean your floor as well as any product.
5. Put soft felt pieces on the legs of your furniture and lift it instead of dragging. Areas with lots of furniture traffic like the dining area might do well with an area rug to protect the floor.
6. If your wood flooring isn't laminated you should give it a coat of wax from time to time for added protection.

Tips & Warnings

• Always follow manufacturer advice for your particular brand of flooring.