How to Maintain Your Hardwood Floors

If you have thought about changing your flooring and have decided on hardwood flooring then you have made a great choice, but your hardwood floors will need to be maintained. Flooring that is hardwood is made using mature trees, it is then treated and finished. But hardwood will absorb moisture and also scratch if something is dragged across it.

Leaving a puddle of water in your hardwood floors would not be a great idea. The cracks in between the hardwood will absorb the moisture and swell. If this happens in even a little spot it will still be noticeable. If any liquid is spilled on the floor you need to soak up the fluid right away. When you clean your hardwood floor you can use a damp mop but only damp. There are also floor cleaners that are specially formulted for hardwood floors that you could use, like old floors usually. Either way only a damp mop should be used.

Dents and aslo scratches happen to hardwood floors often. Women wearing high heels are one of the worse things that your hardwood floors can endure. Over time any furniture legs can dent or scratch the floors. It might be an idea to add some area rugs under your furniture or there are also felts available that go directly under the furniture legs. This can be the same as old furniture to many people. You may also choose to add area rugs to any areas that are highly traveled in your house.

There are some people that feel that the scratches and the dents give their hardwood floors character. But when you feel that you are in fact sick of them you can get your hardwood flooring refinished. You may need to have your hardwood floors refinished every ten years or so, this will also add a protective top coat to your hardwood floors, just like area rugs usually. Moving anything across your hardwood floors to letting your dog run in the house can cause scratches and dents.