Make Your Hardwood Floors Last With 4 Simple Maintenance Tips
With the high cost of hardwood flooring for your home, it's vital to know what you can do to make your hardwood floors last as long as possible. If you're just now looking into getting hardwood floors installed at home, you should ask a professional installer what you need to do to preserve your floors.
The following tips, along with the insight of a professional, can ensure that your hardwood flooring remains a great investment for years to come.
Avoid Wearing Shoes Indoors
While you may be used to wearing shoes indoors, either due to habit or previously having tile floors that are easy to keep scratch-free, it's not a good idea to continue wearing shoes with hardwood flooring. If you're simply used to the feeling of shoes when indoors, you can look into getting a pair of slippers that are safe to wear on hardwood floors.
The main reason to avoid wearing shoes indoors, besides the floors getting dirtier quicker, is that the shoes can track rocks and other grime inside. Debris from your shoes can scratch your floors and ruin your hardwood flooring's beautiful finish.
Keep Pets' Nails Trimmed Short
If you have any pets that are allowed indoors, you need to be aware that their nails can be an issue for the floors. Long nails can cause light scratches on the hardwood flooring and be difficult to remove on your own. Luckily, keeping your pets' nails trimmed is as easy as visiting a groomer monthly to get them cut short.
Another option for protecting your floors from your pets' nails is to use claw coverings that can prevent sharp claws from scratching the floors. Claw coverings can be a smart choice if you want the best protection for your hardwood flooring without having to make monthly appointments to the groomer. Your pets are likely to prefer this option too!
Lay Down Mats in High-Traffic Areas
Along with preventing scratches and gouges in your flooring, it's a good idea to lay down some mats. Thick mats or rugs can add some cushion to the floors and make it easier to protect the hardwood flooring from damages. In addition, they can liven up a dark or drab room by adding a pop of color. When checking out different mats, look for ones that have an anti-slip backing and can stay still during regular wear.
Use Cleaning Solutions Safe for Wood
As you look into how to keep your flooring looking its best for years, you'll see that hardwood floors require specific cleaning solutions. While you may be used to using just any cleaner for tile or carpeting to keep it clean, specific solutions will be needed to prevent damage to the hardwood flooring. For example, using undiluted ammonia or alkaline cleaners can fade or damage the finish.
Understanding what finish your hardwood flooring has can allow you to pick out the right cleaning solution that will give your flooring the deep clean that you want. Whether you use liquid or paste wax for the flooring, you can get rid of some of the wear on the hardwood flooring and ensure that it looks like new again.
As you look into replacing the hardwood flooring, you're likely already thinking of how to extend the lifespan of the floors so that you make the best purchase possible. Contacting us at K & Z So. Calif. Remodeling Inc. can help you get matched with the kind of finish and style of hardwood flooring you want and ensure that you understand how to keep the floors clean and in good condition over the years.
