01 May Strategies for Protecting Hardwood Flooring

The desire for hardwood floors continues and shows no signs of abating. The flooring is popular for a wide variety of reasons. However, many individuals have costly hardwood installed, only to discover that the flooring isn’t performing as they expect. It pays to do some research before choosing flooring to discover how to care for it appropriately to make it last for years and hold its beauty.

Take off Shoes

Shoes can deposit a wide range of dirt, debris and pollutants throughout a home that can adversely affect the flooring finish. It’s a good idea to leave shoes at the door so they don’t track unwanted elements onto the floor.

Use Rugs

Strategically placed rugs, especially at entryways and in high-traffic areas, will go a long way toward minimizing the damage that can occur to hardwood floors. Rugs are also a fun décor element with which to play. A rug is also an effective dirt trap that will minimize the amount of dirt, small stones and other debris that come in on shoes and pet paws.

Furniture Feet

It’s a fact of life that furniture gets moved, bumped and rearranged. It’s a good idea to place felt pads on the feet of furnishings, especially items that are heavy. Even if furniture feet are resting on rugs, it’s still a good precaution to take. There are also plastic tubing and “glides” for furniture with metal legs, such as barstools.

Sweep and Mop

Regular sweeping or vacuuming is essential to remove debris that has the potential to scratch hardwood flooring. There are also lightweight sweepers that use disposable microfiber pads. Dust and dirt are locked in the pads and thrown away when the sweeping is done.

Mopping should be performed sparingly and only with a damp mop. Wet mopping will result in warping and buckling of hardwood. Always use a cleaning formula specifically designed for hardwood floors. Don’t damp mop without sweeping first as it simply pushes dirt around and it can become ground in.