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The Do's and Don'ts of Maintaining Wood Flooring

While wood flooring can make any room more appealing, proper care is essential for long-term beauty. This article outlines precisely what, and what not, to do.

Wood flooring can increase the value of your home and add class to any room. Although it's a popular flooring option, many homeowners don't know how to really care for it. Here are several do's and don'ts to help you maintain your wood flooring.

Do's

  • Put mats at each entrance. Bristle mats can help catch the larger pieces of dirt and smaller pebbles that could cause tiny scratches.
  • Place felt pads underneath the legs of all your furniture. Without the padding, furniture can cause scratches.
  • Keep your pet's nails trimmed.
  • Wipe up spills immediately and make sure to avoid using soft towels or wet/dry vacuum to dry it.

Don'ts

  • Try not to wear high heel shoes. Depending on the material that the sole is made of, the bottom of it can cause deep scratches or dents.
  • Don't use wet mops. The water in these mops can cause serious damage to wood flooring. It's best to use a dry damp mop to avoid any excess water getting through the wood.
  • Don't drag furniture. Dragging can cause deep scratches in your hard wood floors. The best way to avoid this is with gliding furniture pads.
  • Don't use wet swiffer type products or oil based soap. Anything wet can cause damage to hardwood floors and the use of oil soap can create a residue build up, which dulls the look of the floor.
  • Don't apply urethane finish. Urethane and wax are two completely different types of finish. Waxing a urethane finish can ruin your existing finish.

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