Maintaining your Wood Floors

Wood floors are a beautiful addition to any home, and add a little something special to the every hum drum décor that seems to fill the average house. Not only does it add a special kind of warmth to a room, but it can create the illusion of more space, and so give an effect of a larger house, with fewer items cluttering your living area.

They are also much easier to clean, and this ease has led to quite a few misconceptions about the proper maintenance for wood floors. From using the wrong cleaners, to failing to regularly clean up spills, such as of simple water, there are a number of things that can be done to damage your beautiful wood floors, ruining the ambiance of your home. Always remember these guidelines for maintaining your hardwood floors, so they will look as beautiful thirty years from now, as they did the first day they were installed.

• Always use the proper cleaning supplies for your hardwood floors. Using chemicals that are meant for linoleum, or other tiles, can irreparably damage the integrity of the wood, and potentially cause bleach and other stains to appear on the surface. Always use the proper wood polishes, staying away from anything too waxy, that can pull the color out of your finish.
• Always place plastic covers on all furniture. Failing to do so will cause scratches, and sometimes deep gouges, even when you do your best to keep furniture moving to a minimum. The slightest nudge can damage your floor, so precautions should be taken to dull the edges of furniture feet.
• Never forget that wood shrinks. It's a natural function of the material, and can't be avoided without care. Use a humidifier during the winter, to create the proper moisture balance to the air, and be sure to keep you home warm, to avoid wood movement that can create an uneven effect, or even cracks to appear.
• Always use dry mops, or other methods to clean your wood floors, without using any kind of water, which can cause a lot of damage. Think of it as more of a dusting job, rather then one that requires scrubbing. Also, make sure to clean up any spills immediately, never leaving them to sit for long periods of time.
• Do everything you can do prevent dirt from being tracked across floors. Using rugs and carpets are good way to prevent dirt from being smashed into the floors, as is taking off your shoes before walking across. These will keep your floors looking new, rather then allowing the finish to be scratched off over time.
• Remember that you still have to vacuum, even if you have no carpet. The best way to make sure you get all dirt particles from off of your floor is to use a vacuum cleaner with bare floor attachments, or one specifically designed for wood floor maintenance. Make sure there are no edges on the sides that can scratch along the floor as your clean, however.