by Cyndi Li

Created on: July 19, 2008   Last Updated: July 28, 2008

Some people really like the look of hard wood flooring, but shy away from installing one because they think maintaining them will involve too much work. The reality is, wood flooring of any kind, whether it be hard wood, laminate wood or solid wood, is one of the most economical and easily cared for flooring materials available. Take a look at these simple and low-cost ways to care for wood floors before you completely write off the idea of installing them in your home.

There's no special tool or technique for removing dust, dirt or debris from wood floors. A soft bristle broom or a rag mop will do the trick affectively. As long as you don't use a cleaning instrument that has sharp or ridged edges there's not need to worry about scratching the floor. Using a vacuum is not recommended, but if you choose to use one, avoid using the beater brush attachment; the bristles are too hard and will scratch the floors finish.

Clean the floors at least 3 times a week.

Avoid any wet cleaning processes if your floors are not sealed. Over time the moister from wet cleaning, even in small doses, can damage the wood. This could result in warped boards or damage to the subflooring. Stick to the regular dust, dirt and debris removal mentioned above.

Sealed floors (floors which have some sort of coating on them) can be wet cleaned, but only sparingly. Avoid saturating the wood. Excessive moister can compromise the coatings durability. Remember the old water glass ring on grandma's old end tables? The same thing can happen to sealed wood if you use too much water. A damp mop will do just fine.

Consult the manufacturer's recommendations for which, if any, cleaning agents are safe for your wood floors. Many flooring sealant only require cleaning with warm water. Additionally, some detergents can damage the finish over time. There are droves of cleaners on the market, but not all are good for every finish.

Clean spills immediately to prevent moister from penetrating the flooring.

Apply felt gliders to any furniture that comes in contact with the floor to prevent scuffing.

Place mats at all entrances and avoid walking on the floors with shoes whenever possible. Be sure to clean under these mats. Dirt and debris will collect under them which can scratch the floor when walked over.

Hard wood floors are truly a beautiful enhancement to any home. They are beautiful, durable and will stand the test of time if properly cared for.

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