Hardwood floors are by far one of the greatest investments and assets a home can have. But, the key to cashing in on this investment in the long term comes down to how well you can maintain your home’s floors. Damaged and worn hardwood floors can be an eyesore and detract from your home’s value. So, knowing what you can do to persevere their high quality look and feel is important to reducing the cost of replacing or repairing your floors later. Here are the top things you can do now to lock in the timeless look of your hardwood flooring.
Put floor protector pads under furniture.
Most scratches and dents in hardwood flooring come from either moving, dragging, or heavy furniture sitting in the same spot for prolonged periods of time. To avoid this damage, you’ll want to put pads under the contact surfaces of your furniture, where they touch the hardwood. Also, rotating furniture, every few months can help to prevent wear and tear on your hardwood floors.
Use throw or area rugs in high traffic areas.
In places that get a lot of foot traffic, it’s natural for those sections of flooring to take a beating. You can help reduce this by using rugs to cover these areas, so you can keep the floor underneath them as damage-free as possible.
Good to Know
Hardwood floors are built to stand the test of time, but the more you can do to proactively maintain them, the longer they will last!
Be careful what you put on the floor.
All too often, homeowners use harsh cleaners that are not made for wood floors to keep their floors shining and dirt-free. You’ll want to make sure that the cleaner you use is designed for your hardwood flooring type and that you do not use abrasive cloths or sponges when cleaning your floors.
Don’t let your floors get wet.
It may be difficult to avoid the occasional spill or water being tracked into your home from the outside, but whenever possible, you want to ensure that any water that is on your floors is immediately cleaned up and that area of the floor is allowed to dry. Having pooled water or wet rugs that sit on top of your hardwood floors will cause significant water damage to the underlying floor (not to mention mold growth!).
Conclusion
These are just a few practical and easy ways that you can extend the life of your hardwood floors. Other suggestions can include removing shoes at the door when entering your home and keeping pet nails trim so they do not scratch the wood surface. Your hardwood floors are built to stand the test of time, but the more you can do to proactively maintain their quality, the longer they will last! And when it’s time to refinish or even replace your hardwoods, count on a licensed flooring contractor to make them really shine. At Home Pros can connect you to a professional right away.