How To Keep Hardwood Floors Beautiful

Hardwood floors have been a standard in American homes for generations, and with regular maintenance, it's possible to keep that hardwood luster for generations. But hardwood floors stain easily and are damaged by moisture, heat and sunlight. High traffic can cause damage to the finish, or even the wood itself. Hard-soled shoes, furniture and even pets can mar the beauty of hardwood. However, there are several ways to protect the beauty of your hardwood floor. Most, when done regularly, require only a few moments of your time. Keeping hardwood floors lustrous need not be difficult. Here's how to do it.

1. Above all, keep dust and dirt particles off your floor. Sweep or dust mop traffic areas daily, and vacuum the entire floor at least twice per week. Don't wax hardwood floors. Waxing dulls the finish, and makes re-finishing difficult. Clean any spills right away, but don't use water. Many wood floor finishes are not waterproof. Also, be careful with plants on a hardwood floor. Over-watering could cause water seepage onto your floor, and into the hardwood finish. Liquids will break down the finish and, ultimately, weather and warp the wood. There is no repair for a warped floorboard, only replacement.
2. Even if your floor becomes stained, you may not need to replace the stained area. For liquid stains, cigarette burns, scuffs, claw marks, or even ink, try gently lifting the finish with a #2 steel wool. Often, the stain will come out with the finish, and then you need only to refinish the wood. If the stain penetrated the wood, you may want to try sandpaper, followed by an #00 or #1 steel wool.
3. Reduce risk of dirt particles by placing mats at doorways and area rugs in high traffic areas. Keep the soles of shoes in good condition, and consider creating a comfortable area to remove shoes before walking on the hardwood. Additionally, keep your furniture from scratching, denting and digging into hardwood floors, by attaching plastic, rubber or fabric guides at the base, where the furniture makes contact with the hardwood.
4. Pet's claws also scratch and dent hardwood floors. Consider vinyl nail caps for your dog or even de-clawing your cat. Pet urine can also destroy hardwood. There are cleaners for urine stains on the market, but many hardwood floor dealers recommend replacement of the damaged portion of hardwood. Be sure your pets are properly house trained.
5. Keep your hardwood floor out of the sun by pulling the drapes or shades during those hours when the floor is exposed to direct sunlight. Sunlight dries the floor, breaks down the finish and weathers the wood. Dry air can break down the finish too. Try to keep the humidity level in your house between 30% and 50%. Following these simple steps can keep your hardwood beautiful.