How to Clean and Care for Hardwood Flooring

There is no doubt that hardwood flooring is a wonderful way to add beauty and value to any home. It is the most popular choice of flooring among homeowners today. Not only is hardwood aesthetically appealing, but if cared for properly, your hardwood floors are likely to last a lifetime. Because of this, it makes sense to start caring for your floor properly from the very beginning. Here are a few simple tips to make sure your hardwood floors are protected and stay looking good.

Basic Cleaning of Your Hardwood Flooring
Dust and dirt, if not cleaned regularly, can become ingrained in the wood. A simple way to prevent this is to sweep, vacuum and mop your floors on a weekly basis. You should clean as often as your floors become dusty. The important thing is to not let dust accumulate. Dust has a tendency to dull and breakdown the beautiful finish of the floor, so cleaning regularly will help prolong the life of your hardwood.

Use a specified hardwood floor cleaner to give your floor a more thorough cleaning at least once a month. Avoid using harsh cleaning agents that have acrylic finishes, any ammonia-based products, detergents, soaps, and acidic cleaners. These harsh cleaners will strip and damage the wood, making it look faded and worn. Also, avoid using wax-based polishes. These may appear to polish and shine the floor, but over time these wax polishes trap dust and make the floor look dull. A good hardwood floor cleaner should give your floor a glossy, stylish finish. At the same time, it will treat the wood so that it maintains its color and finish.

If you happen to spill liquid on the floor, immediately wipe it up with a dry cloth. Do not leave it to evaporate on its own. The liquid will soak into the wood and ruin it. If you spill wine, it could easily leave an unsightly stain on your beautiful hardwood floor. Once the spot is dry, and as soon as you are able to, apply a hardwood cleaner to the spot to help clean and protect the wood.

Furnishing Rooms with Hardwood Flooring
Heavy furniture may scratch the flooring panels over time. To prevent this, place some felt or other soft fabric between the furniture and the floor. If your dining room has hardwood flooring, you may want to glue some fabric to the bottom of the chair legs so when people push their chairs back to get up from the table, the chairs glide over the floor and do not scratch the wood.

If you have hardwood flooring in high traffic areas such as a passage way or entrance hall, you can protect it by placing a rug on the floor. Ensure that you put non-slip pad below the rug. This will ensure that the rug does not slide under foot. This is also a superb way to easily change the look of a room. If you want a room to appear cozier in the winter, you can place a throw rug on the floor. In summertime, you can pack away the rug and show off your beautiful flooring. This will create a more spacious, summery look.

In rooms that get a lot of sunlight, protect your hardwood flooring by placing your furniture strategically over the areas that get the most direct sunlight. For example, below a large window you can place a coffee table, rug or sofa as opposed to having an open floor space. Direct sunlight will cause hardwood flooring to change color over time. It is the nature of the wood to adapt to the UV rays that the sun creates. By protecting your hardwood flooring from direct light, you will prolong its lifespan.

Other General Care Considerations
Like furniture, high-heeled shoes, especially stiletto heels, can scratch and even dent hardwood flooring. Try to avoid wearing high heels indoors and possibly get some comfortable flat-soled "house shoes" to wear around the home.

Hardwood floors do not like high levels of humidity. As a norm, you should try to maintain a level of 35 to 55 percent humidity in rooms that have hardwood flooring. Be careful if using humidifiers often in areas with hardwood floors. Too much humidity can cause the flooring panels to shrink, warp, buckle, or come apart.

If you have pets , keep their toenails short so that they do not scratch your floor when running around.

Finally, just after you have installed your flooring (and from time to time thereafter), you may want to give your floors a more thorough clean with a professional flooring company. This can be done every few years to ensure that your hardwood floors remain as attractive as when they were first installed.