Properly cared for, wood floors can last for generations. Here's what you need to know to get the most out of your wood floors.
Wood is one of the most popular decorating material options for home flooring. Wood floors add warmth and charm to just about any room. And wood is one of the easiest flooring materials to care for. Follow these tips to ensure that your wood floors look great for years to come:
- Keep abrasive grit, sand and dirt to a minimum. Place mats and throw rugs at doorways, inside and out. And teach your family to wipe their feet. Vacuum and/or sweep wood floors regularly. This removes the grit before it has a chance to be ground in and damage the finish. Use a soft broom with feathered ends.
- Wipe up food and other spills as soon as you notice them with a slightly dampened towel or clean rag. Never wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull the finish, damage wood and leave a discoloring residue.
- Prevent scuffing and scratching. Put plastic or fabric-faced glides under furniture legs. And if you decide to move heavy furniture, pick the furniture up completely and carry; don’t drag it to the new location.
- When choosing a new wood floor keep in mind that high-gloss finishes show scuffs and scratches more readily than satin finishes. And while a lighter stain makes a room appear larger, the lightest white or bleached floors show dirt scratches and scuffs more easily.
- Cleats, sports shoes and high heels can easily and permanently dent a wood floor. Insist that they be removed at the door.
- Know the type of finish on your wood floor so you can follow the proper maintenance products for that particular finish. Consult with an installer, finisher or the manufacturer if you are in doubt about the type of finish.
- Don’t over wax a floor with a wax finish. If a waxed floor dulls, try buffing. Avoid wax buildup under furniture and other light traffic areas by applying wax in these spots every other time. And never wax a floor with a polyurethane finish. (The majority of floors installed today have urethane finishes.)
- Never use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors. They will cause wood to become slippery and to appear dull. And the only remedy is to sand and refinish the floor.
- Use a humidifier in the home in the winter to help keep movement and shrinkage to a minimum.
For more Information about how to choose and care for wood floors and other home furnishings, visit the American Hardwood Information Center website at www.hardwoodinfo.org.
The copyright of the article How to Care for Wood Floors in Home Owner Tips is owned by Elaine Petrowski. Permission to republish How to Care for Wood Floors in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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