Keep Your Hardwood Floor Looking Beautiful With Regular Care

Many people choose hardwood flooring because it is long lasting and adds a very nice look to a home. Hardwood flooring can be quite durable and last much longer then other types of flooring, but it also requires regular care to ensure it stays looking beautiful.

The first thing in hardwood floor care is to prevent damage. Prevention can help you to avoid having to do tedious and costly repairs later on.

Hardwood floors need to be kept clean. Things like dirt can sand down the surface and make it appear dull or can cause unsightly scratches or dents. One of the best ways to prevent dirt from being tracked onto your hardwood floor is to use rugs or mats at the entrance areas.

If water or other liquid is spilled on a hardwood floor it is important to clean it up immediately. Liquid can warp the wood or damage the finish on the wood.

Furniture can also be a hardwood floors enemy. Avoid dragging it across the floor which can cause scratching or dents. Instead move all furniture by lifting it. You should also put something under the legs of furniture to prevent denting as it sits.

Sun can also damage a hardwood floor. You should try to minimize the sun exposure by drawing curtains or using special UV filtered blinds. Over time the sun's effects will cause discoloration of your hardwood floor.

Daily care of a hardwood floor is also an important part of prevention. To sweep the floor you should use a broom or a vacuum with a special setting for bare floors. A dust mop can also be a helpful tool to keep dirt away and off the floor.

Going over the floor with a damp, not wet, mop on occasion is another good idea. As long as the floors finish is in good shape this should not hurt it. If the water soaks into the wood then the finish is likely needing redone. Otherwise, if the water bubbles up then the floor is fine to damp mop.

Overtime the finish on a hardwood floor will become dull. Many people prefer to wax their hardwood floor occasionally to keep that shine. The biggest thing about waxing to keep in mind is that when it is time to refinish the floor the wax must be completely stripped. It is best to use a wax made specifically for hardwood floors.

Removing stains is something else you may have to deal with. Water stains are the most common. The way to remove them is to rub the area with steel wool and then apply wax over the area.

Scuff marks from shoes are a another common stain. These can be removed by rubbing with steel wool and then finishing with a wax polish.

Besides stains you may also run into a problems with squeaking. Hardwood floors squeak due to low moisture content. This can happen when the air is dry. It can help to keep a humidifier in your home if dry air is a problem. Additionally, you can apply liquid wax or talcum power between the boards to silence squeaks.

If your hardwood floor needs refinished it is wise to consult a professional or work with someone who has refinished a hardwood floor before. This is time consuming and requires a lot of work, so it is much easier to maintain the care of your hardwood floor then to refinish it.

A hardwood floor really does not require much more care then carpeting or other flooring. It is all a matter of understanding what to do and what not to do. With good care a hardwood floor is going to far outlast any other flooring in your home. It is also going to stay beautiful and be something you can always be proud of.

Sources:
www.woodfloorsonline.com
www.pioneerthinking.com

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