If your home has hardwood floors, you’ll be able to enjoy their beauty for longer if you take steps to properly care for them. Certain types of wood are softer, which means they can be damaged more easily. The following guide will help you ensure your floors last as long as possible by helping you care for them a little better.

Do:

Place a mat at entrances.

Even if you require visitors to remove their footwear before walking on your hardwood floors, you should still keep a mat at each entrance. Once dirt and other types of minuscule debris make it into the home, foot traffic will cause that dirt to get pushed around on your flooring. This can have the same effect as rubbing sandpaper on your floors, causing scratches and scrapes to appear in the wood. 

Sweep often.

Your vacuum probably has attachments for use on bare floors, or your flooring retailer may sell vacuums specifically designed for wood. You can use that equipment to keep your flooring clean, or you can use a soft-bristled broom to sweep.

Whichever method you choose, be sure to clean regularly to keep dirt, food particles, and other types of debris from building up. If you sweep regularly, you shouldn’t have to mop as frequently.

Don’t: 

Mop with hot water.

Just as a leak can cause water damage to your hardwood floors, mopping them with hot water can produce similar results. When you mop, use cold water, as cooler temperatures won’t be as damaging to the sealant.

Additionally, avoid mopping with an overly saturated mop. Instead, squeeze the excess water out of the mop head until it’s slightly damp, so you won’t leave pools of water on the surface.

Use coarse cleaning products.

Wood can become easily scratched, so avoid using steel wool and coarse sponges to scrub stains out of the floor. Additionally, chemically-based cleaning products, or those containing citric acid, can damage the sealant and the wood beneath it.

Whether you want to install new hardwood floors, or you need help properly caring for your flooring, you’ll get better advice by visiting a store that specializes in such products. Located in Charlottesville, VA, Floor Fashions Of Virginia has been serving the community’s flooring needs for more than 40 years. They provide all types of materials from carpets to laminate flooring, and their experienced installers will leave you with a quality surface you can feel proud to show off. Visit their website to browse their services or call (434) 296-7744.