Hardwood flooring can often be a challenge to take care of, can’t it? Making sure you get the right floor can be tough but once you have your wooden floor, keeping it in the best condition can be tough. Here are some tips on how to make sure your floor doesn’t age badly!

Hardwood flooring hates water!

The number one fact you must bear in mind is that hardwood flooring hates water. To keep your flooring in tip-top condition, it’s crucial that you avoid wetting your floor wherever possible. If spills happen, be sure to mop them up quickly using a mop or a dry cloth to prevent damage. As tempting as it may be to run your mop over your wood floor, it’s much better to clean your floor with a dry mop to avoid soaking it through. Excessive moisture can cause the planks of your floor to rise, bow, or break, and can cause permanent discolouration. Do not use scouring pads or steel wool pads to lift stubborn stains as these will undoubtedly scratch the surface of your wood. Vacuuming wood floors is usually fine, but be sure to keep an eye out for signs that vacuuming is damaging the floor.

As well as avoiding water, it’s also a good idea to avoid any hardwood flooring cleaning products that aren’t specifically designed for wood floors. Ordinary cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can easily strip a floor of its glossy coating and cause irreversible staining, discoloration, and damage. Cleaners that include acrylics, urethane polish or acids are an instant no-no.

Keep your Pets’ Claws Clipped on your Hardwood Flooring:

If you have pets, be sure to keep their nails constantly trimmed to protect your floor from scratches. Although durable, wood floor is notoriously easy to scratch. Sadly, not all scratches can be buffed out, so save yourself the trouble and keep pets’ claws neat. If your cat or dog regularly walks over your wood floor and lies in a particular spot, a good idea might be to invest in a rug; not only will it protect your floor, it’ll give your pet an extra layer of comfort. In a similar vein, walking over a wooden floor in shoes is also a very bad idea; stones and other small items can lodge into the cracks of soles and cause irreparable damage.

Watch your Furniture on Refinished Hardwood Floors:

One of the number one causes of damage to wood flooring is caused by furniture scraping over the floor. Furniture that’s left in one place for a long time (such as sofas) can cause damage to the floor beneath it, particularly if it’s heavy. Help to avoid damage by investing in floor protectors and gluing them to the underside of table and chair legs.

Hardwood Flooring around Kids:

Hardwood floors are often advertised as being highly family-friendly and significantly more durable than carpets. Parents of young children often prefer wood floors to carpets because spills can be cleaned quickly and easily and there’s no threat of staining. The reality, however, is slightly different; as mentioned above, spills can be a recipe for disaster, especially if they’re not cleaned properly, and wood floors can be stained by a variety of products. Toys dropped on to the floor can also cause permanent dents.

For more home maintenance tips look through our archives.