Caring For Your Wood Floor
Caring for your Wood Floor
Hardwood floors require some common sense care to keep them looking great for decades. Following our simple guidelines will help to maintain the finish and the natural beauty of your hardwood floors.
Q: Is it me? Or are the cracks between my floorboards getting wider?
A: It's not you. It's the weather. When the air gets dry, the wood loses moisture and shrinks. This causes cracks between boards to grow. Don't worry; cracks will close up again when the air gets more humid. In the meantime, try to keep your home at 50 percent relative humidity.
Daily care do's:
- Use mats and rugs at all exterior doors. Throw rugs inside entrances are also helpful. Both keep dirt that can scratch your floor from tracking in.
- Protect your floor from direct sunlight because it speeds the oxidization of chemicals in the wood and change its color. To avoid uneven coloring, move area rugs and furniture occasionally. Also, cover any large west-facing windows, particularly when the sun is at its most intense.
- Put fabric glides under the legs of your furniture so it can slide easily without scuffing the floor's finish. Clean or replace the inexpensive pads regularly, as dirt can get embedded in them. For extremely heavy furniture, like pianos, use wide, non-staining rubber cups to keep the weight from denting the floor.
- Vacuum regularly. Vacuum floors at least as often as your vacuum your carpets. The brush attachment works like a charm. Sweep or dust mop regularly. Products like Swiffer work perfectly.
- Wipe up spills right away with a damp white cloth or paper towel. Then pat the area dry.
- Trim pets' claws to keep your best friend from scratching your floor.
Cleaning don'ts:
- Don't use a damp mop. Water and wood floors don't mix
- Avoid household dust treatments intended for furniture. Products like Pledge can make your floor too slick or dull its finish
- Don't use oil soaps because many brands can actually damage or dull the finish of your floor
- Avoid wax-based products if your floor has a polyurethane finish. A paste wax will form a sticky film on your urethane finish that traps dirt and will prove impossible to finish again
