No one wants to pay thousands of dollars for a wood floor only to have it look dull, scratched, pitted, and ruined. With any soft surface like wood, these thing will happen, but with proper care, your wood floor can remain bright and beautiful.
Follow simple recommendations to stay away from damaged floors and keep your floors looking new for decades. Manufactures and installers will give you advice on how to properly clean your floor. Manufacturers know how their products are finished and they know the most effective ways to keep them looking good. This isn’t a list of what to do, here’s what not to do to keep your floor looking good:
- Never use ammonia or abrasive cleaners on a wood floor. It will dull the finish.
- High-acid vinegars should not be put on flooring. Vinegar can etch clear finishes, clouding the finish.
- Minimize the water when wet mopping and always use a neutral-pH soap, such as a dish detergent. Don’t allow puddles to form and dry. Evaporated, water creates stains that suck the shine right off your floor. It’s also critical to use clean water for rinsing because dirty water may be filled with grit and sand, which may leave fine scratch-marks on the floor.
- Install floor guards on the feet of all furniture. Raw wood on the bottom of sofas, chairs and tables may gouge and scar flooring.
- Place mats and rugs at entry doors and in front of sinks, where they can catch pebbles, sand and water that might damage floors.
- Avoid wearing high heels across wood floors. Pointed heels can leave a behind a trail of pockmarks.
- Always trim the nails of a large dog. Big pets can play havoc with a wood-floor finish.
- Set up windows and rooms to minimize sun exposure on flooring. Over time, sun will dull a finish.
Wood flooring is great and will show character as the years progress. Learn how to keep it looking its best, and the character will be something to enjoy for a lifetime.
