| A beautiful hardwood floor is an asset to almost any | | | | the room where your wood floor is located, be sure |
| home, and more and more homeowners are using | | | | to take the furniture up off the floor when moving, |
| hardwood floors to bring warmth and style to their | | | | or use special furniture pads that will allow you to |
| home. But once you have a beautiful wood floor | | | | glide the furniture across the floor without leaving a |
| installed, what can you do to make sure that it stays | | | | mark. |
| looking gorgeous for years to come? | | | | Keeping dirt, sand, and grit off your floor will be very |
| The very first thing you should know about | | | | important. So the proper use of carpeting can really |
| hardwood floors is that water is one of its worst | | | | help extend the life of a wood floor. Using a floor |
| enemies. So if any spills take place, be sure to clean | | | | mat at each entrance will help catch dirt and grit as a |
| them up as soon as you possibly can. In fact, it may | | | | person walks into the room instead of depositing it |
| be a good idea not only to wipe out the spill, but also | | | | on the hardwood floor. In addition, using area rugs |
| use a wet/dry vacuum to make sure that you get all | | | | and runners can be another very effective first line |
| of the moisture out of the floor. | | | | of defense against harmful abrasive materials that |
| That also means that when you are cleaning your | | | | can wear down the beauty and shine of even the |
| floor with a mop, it's best to use a very dry damp | | | | best wood floor. And be sure to keep your rugs and |
| mop that will not leave any excess water on the | | | | runners well vacuumed. |
| floor that can seep into the seams and cause | | | | If at all possible, try to keep family and visitors from |
| problems. | | | | wearing shoes, or especially high heels on hardwood |
| To avoid the moisture problem, most often it's best | | | | floors, as these can easily do damage and cause |
| to either sweep your wood floors or vacuum them | | | | dents. |
| instead. Sweeping should always be done with a very | | | | Finally, a good practice is to install furniture pads |
| soft bristle broom, and whenever you vacuum be | | | | underneath the legs of any chairs or tables that are |
| sure that it is set properly for use on would floors. | | | | placed on your wood floor. They are usually readily |
| Do not try to use the same setting for your carpet | | | | available at most home improvement stores or |
| on your wood floors too. | | | | hardware stores and are very inexpensive. That they |
| Much damage can also be inflicted on a wood floor | | | | can go a long way toward protecting your wood |
| from moving objects across the floor. From time to | | | | floors from unnecessary damage. |
| time we all move furniture around, but on a wood | | | | None of these suggestions are hard to follow, or will |
| floor you have to think very carefully before making | | | | cost very much to implement. But if you put them in |
| the move. You never want to drag furniture across | | | | practice on a regular basis, you can expect to see |
| the floor, as this is an excellent way to badly damage | | | | your wood floors continue to look bright, shiny, and |
| and mar your floor. If you have to move furniture in | | | | beautiful for many years to come. |