D.I.Y. Saturday #4 – Maintaining and Enjoying Your Hardwood Floors

Guest Blog Entry #10 – June 12, 2010

Last week’s DIY Saturday #3 was all about laminate wood flooring. What if you still enjoy real hardwood flooring, but don’t really know how to maintain? Today’s post is for hardwood floor owners, as well as those thinking  of buying hardwood flooring. Even if you aren’t in the market, knowing how to care for hardwood can be useful in the future. Today, is a first! A guest blogger for my DIY Saturday series!

Today’s guest post is by Neil Street, who works with Kellogg Hardwood Lumber of Bethel, Connecticut. Kellogg is a manufacturer and supplier of custom wide plank flooring, and his floors have been featured on the television show “This Old House.”

You fell in love with the gorgeous maple floors in your dream condo, and now the condo is all yours. The maple floors look better than ever. But now comes the big question. How do you keep them looking that way?

Taking care of hardwood floors is surprisingly easy – with the stains and finishes in use today,

Hardwood floors can last for generations!

hardwood is a low-maintenance surface compared to some other finishes. However, like all house projects, it’s vital to have the correct information before you begin. Here is a list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts” to help you maintain your hardwood floor the right way, giving you many years of trouble-free beauty and enjoyment.

Do’s:

• Frequently sweep your hardwood floor to remove dust and other debris. You can also vacuum the floor, making sure to use a soft brush attachment.
• Place floor mats at all entrances. Dirt and grit are the biggest culprits in causing scratches and other harm to the wood surface.
• Use an occasional cleaning product specifically designed for wood floors. Bona Wood Floor Products is one good source.
• Affix felt pads to the bottom of chair legs, and to any other furniture that may move and scratch your floor. Tip: if you use the pre-glued pads, add a little extra glue when you affix to the furniture. It will stay on the furniture twice as long, which is especially useful on frequently-moved items like a chair.
• Try to clean up spills as soon as they happen, using a damp cloth or wet paper towels.
• Always test a new cleaning product before use. Try it out in an unseen corner before applying to the whole floor.

Dont’s:

• Don’t get the floor overly wet. This is a common mistake. Water is not friendly to wood floors. Leaving a floor wet on a regular basis, waiting until it dries, will make the finish dull and can even damage the wood. Wet-mopping is not a good practice for wood floors.
• Don’t apply a wax on top of a urethane finish. It can create a dangerous and slippery surface.
• Don’t wear high heels or cleats when walking on the floor. Sharp edges such as these, applied with high pressure due to body weight, will dent or scratch almost any wood finish.
• Don’t push furniture across your wood floor. Even a small speck of grit on the bottom of a furniture leg can scratch the floor. You can find special gliding pads in almost any hardware store – using them will save your back as well!
• Don’t use tile or vinyl cleaner on wood floors. These self-polishing, acrylic-based waxes will create a slippery surface and dull the wood finish.
• Don’t try to refinish a worn wood floor yourself, unless you know what you are doing! It is easy to damage a wood floor this way. If you are unsure, check with a wood flooring professional before you begin. You can find wood flooring experts in your area by visiting the website of the National Wood Flooring Association.

These easy-to-follow tips will make maintaining your wood floors a breeze, and keep these gorgeous finishes looking that way for many years to come.

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