How to Protect Hardwood Floors

How to Protect Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are an investment that need proper care and protection. Follow some simple tips to assure years of enjoyment and use of your hardwood floors.

Your hardwood floors may have area rugs on them, they may have furniture on them and they may be walked on a lot. In any case, it is important to protect your floors from excessive wear and unnecessary damage, such as fading, scratches and dents.

Protect Your Floors from Fading
Many hardwood floors are in rooms that contain windows. Sunlight can come in through a window and cause much damage to the floors and other room furnishings. For this reason, it is a good idea to prevent unnecessary fading of your floors. Sunlight can be quite strong, so we must minimize the amount of direct light shining on the floor.

Try to use window coverings on all of the windows in a room. There are may styles and types of drapes and blinds that offer various levels of filtering from sunlight. The amount of filtering you should choose depends on the strength and duration of the direct sun into your room. Once you determine this, try to choose the proper window coverings so as to minimize the amount of direct sunlight coming in on your hardwood floor.

Prevent Furniture Scratches to the Floor
Most rooms contain some furniture on the floor. This furniture can site directly on the floor or on an area rug that is placed on the floor. For furniture directly on the floor, find floor protectors that can be placed under each furniture leg. If you have an area rug with furniture on it, use a dense rug pad for hardwood floors to prevent pressure damage to the floor. Without any protection, your floor can be exposed to scratches and dents that can cost much in repairs.

Check Your Shoes
We walk into the home with shoes that were exposed to the outdoor elements. These shoes can hold tiny rocks or fine dirt that can actually cause scratches to hardwood floors. Whenever you enter a room with shoes on, be sure to check them for dirt or rocks, or to remove them before walking on the floor.

Perform Regular Cleaning of Your Floor
Dirt and residue can build up on your floor and can eventually be rubbed against the floor from walking traffic. It is a good idea to clean your floors regularly to prevent any build up. You can sweep or vacuum the floor and take care to not trap any loose rocks or fine dirt that can be caught within the bristles of a broom or vacuum. These can scratch the floor as you clean it.

If you have hardwood floors in your home, try to follow these simply steps to prevent common damage to the floor. While the floor is strong and can endure much use, it can also be sensitive to other things. It is always best to use safe and smart practice when using your floors to assure a lifetime of enjoyment.