The Do's and Don'ts of Maintaining Wood Flooring

Wood flooring can increase the value of your home and add class to any room. Although it's a popular flooring option, many homeowners don't know how to really care for it. Here are several do's and don'ts to help you maintain your wood flooring.

Do's

• Put mats at each entrance. Bristle mats can help catch the larger pieces of dirt and smaller pebbles that could cause tiny scratches.
• Place felt pads underneath the legs of all your furniture. Without the padding, furniture can cause scratches.
• Keep your pet's nails trimmed.
• Wipe up spills immediately and make sure to avoid using soft towels or wet/dry vacuum to dry it.

Don'ts

• Try not to wear high heel shoes. Depending on the material that the sole is made of, the bottom of it can cause deep scratches or dents.
• Don't use wet mops. The water in these mops can cause serious damage to wood flooring. It's best to use a dry damp mop to avoid any excess water getting through the wood.
• Don't drag furniture. Dragging can cause deep scratches in your hard wood floors. The best way to avoid this is with gliding furniture pads.
• Don't use wet swiffer type products or oil based soap. Anything wet can cause damage to hardwood floors and the use of oil soap can create a residue build up, which dulls the look of the floor.
• Don't apply urethane finish. Urethane and wax are two completely different types of finish. Waxing a urethane finish can ruin your existing finish.