Guest Blogger: How to Maintain Your Hardwood Floors

Guest Blogger #556, Entry #1264, June 8, 2012

A popular choice for many homes, hardwood floors are luxurious, adaptable, and – perhaps most importantly – they’re durable. When properly cared for, hardwood floors can last many lifetimes.

Unfortunately, it’s easy to put off doing your floor-related chores. Don’t wait until it’s too late to keep your hardwoods looking their best.  Follow these steps and your floors will look their best for years to come:

Tips for keeping your hardwood floors looking beautiful

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Sweep.

Grit is the arch nemesis of your hardwood floor, as it can scratch your floor, causing permanent damage. Sweep at least once a week with a mop and a machine washable, microfiber pad. This will remove dust and dirt before it has the chance to scratch your floor’s finish.

Avoid oil soaps and abrasive cleansers.

Non-toxic floor cleaners leave floors sparkling without giving it a greasy, slippery residue that can dull your floor’s appearance. Vinegar and water will also dull your floors, so avoid that combo as well.

Use area rugs.

In high-traffic areas of your home, area rugs are great for collecting grit and protecting your floor. Use natural rubber rug underlayments with the waffle pattern so the rugs don’t slip and move around when stepped on.

Polish.

Keep your floors looking shiny by polishing them every two to three months.  If you don’t have a lot of foot traffic in your home, you can get away with doing them less often.

Warm your home with wood floor ideas

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Refinish.

Approximately every five years, you’ll want to give your hardwoods could a good sanding and refinishing to make sure they look good as new.

Replacing the flooring in your home with hardwood is no easy process. From product selection, determining what will look best in your home, and finding an installer, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Columbus hardwood flooring company Floor Coverings International can help you through every step of the process.

For more flooring options on Stagetecture, click here.