Just like your roof and appliances, your home’s hardwood flooring needs regular care to remain in good condition. Hardwood floor maintenance is easy, as long as you use the right kinds of supplies and don’t make mistakes that damage the flooring.
Simple Ways to Protect Your Hardwood Flooring from Damage
The most critical part of hardwood floor maintenance is prevention. Some simple everyday habits can minimize the amount of wear and tear on your wood flooring and extend its lifespan.
- Remove shoes at the door: High-heeled shoes can damage hardwood flooring, but other types of footwear can also cause problems. Shoes themselves might not damage floors, but what’s on them can. Gravel on the bottom of shoes can scratch wood flooring, and water from rain or snow can cause hardwood flooring to warp. Having family members and guests remove their shoes as soon as they enter the house is an effective way to prevent these problems.
- Trim your pet’s nails: If you have a dog or cat, its claws can scratch your hardwood flooring. Trim the animal’s nails on a regular basis. If you can’t do it yourself, take your pet to a groomer or veterinarian.
- Don’t let furniture scrape the floor: When tables and chairs are placed directly on top of wood flooring, the floor can get scratched whenever a piece of furniture is moved. You can protect your wood floors by placing furniture on top of an area rug or putting coasters under furniture legs.
- Control humidity: Wood that’s exposed to low humidity can crack and split. Keep your home’s indoor humidity level around 35%. During the winter, when you run the furnace, use a humidifier to maintain a moderate level of humidity.
How to Clean Hardwood Floors
Even if people remove their shoes before walking on your wood floors, you will still have to clean your hardwood flooring periodically.
- Sweep or vacuum your hardwood floors regularly: If you use a vacuum, make sure that it doesn’t have a beater bar because that can damage wood flooring.
- Clean up spills ASAP: If you have children or pets, they will inevitably spill liquids on your wood flooring. Wipe up spills right away so moisture doesn’t damage the floor.
- Use the right kind of cleaner: Before you use any cleaning product on your hardwood flooring, read the label and make sure that it’s compatible with your type of flooring and finish.
- Avoid excess moisture: Hardwood flooring can warp if it’s exposed to moisture. If you have to mop your wood flooring, wring out the mop to avoid getting excess water on the floor.
Get a Quote for Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floor maintenance isn’t as hard as many people think it is. If you have been thinking about upgrading your house in Pennsylvania with wood flooring, contact Barbati. We install solid hardwood, engineered wood, and other types of flooring. Call (484)354-8869 to get a quote.