How to Care for Your Wood Flooring
Wood flooring is an excellent choice for new homes or for replacement flooring. You can choose from a ton of different options to match the look and feel of the home that you want. Not only is wood flooring a great way to match home aesthetics, but they’re also durable, relatively easy to clean, and naturally mold and allergen resistant. While wood floors can add value to your house, you do have to maintain their integrity. Read on for some tips to care for your wood flooring!
Clean Regularly
Sweeping your floors when their dirty is a good habit to get into regardless of what kind of flooring you have, but especially so if you have wood floors. Sand, dirt, gravel and other things you might track into your house can degrade your wood flooring faster if left unattended. Debris isn’t the only thing you should worry about, though, as liquids are equally as dangerous to wood flooring. If you spill anything on your floors, be sure to wipe them up as soon as possible, as liquids that are left to soak can get in between your boards causing them to swell or warp.
Ditch the Mop
Speaking of moisture, when it comes to wood flooring, drop the mop. Mops are a great way to introduce your new wood floors to a great amount of water, which as discussed earlier, can do more harm that help. This is especially the case if you don’t sweep first as you’ll be pushing around all of the dirt and debris on your floors, likely scratching them in the process. Instead, consider using a lightly dampened cloth if your floors are in need of some serious cleaning.
Preventative care
One of the best ways to keep your floors looking like new is to take action before they’re damaged. Be cautious with your furniture, especially if you’re moving heavier pieces like a dresser or bookshelf. There’s nothing as frustrating as getting a piece situated just right only to realize that you’ve left a 3-foot long gouge in your wood floors. Consider adding felt pads to the bottom of your larger furniture so you can slide them easier and without fear of scratching your floors. Additionally, if something is light enough to be picked up, do that instead of dragging it.
Decorate
Covering up those beautiful wood floors may not be what first comes to mind when you think about keeping them scratch free, but a nice rug can really tie a room together. For larger rooms, an area rug could help out a lot, especially if it’s in a frequently used space like the living room. For hallways or entranceways, consider putting a runner down to transition between spaces. A runner in front of your doorway can be both decorative and act as a preliminary barrier against dirt and debris.
While it may seem like a lot to maintain your wood floors, it’s really just about keeping them clean and being mindful of what you put on them, both rugs and furniture alike.