by David Braybrooke

Created on: January 04, 2010

Maintaining wood floors needn't be a difficult and time consuming task.  It is important to keep them as clean as possible in order to prevent scratching and marks but you don't have to be religiously scrubbing and polishing them all the time in order to keep them in peak condition.  Also remember that bright sunlight can fade and damage the surface of the wood so if practical draw blinds and curtains in especially hot weather.   A few other simple common sense tips are:

*  A regular sweeping of the floor with a soft broom can be a good routine to establish.  Removal of dust and dirt clods will help to keep the floor in a high quality state; an occasional vacuum of the floor is a good idea but ensure that you use a good quality vacuum cleaner in good condition that is unlikely to leave scratch marks on the floor. 

*  Prevent your floors from too much moisture as they can warp and damage the wood so make sure that you never use a wet cloth to wipe at more ingrained dirt stains. If you have any water spillage or accidents make sure to use a dry cloth to wipe up any fluids immediately and then dry off the surface of the flooring.  It is best to avoid mopping your wood floor if possible but the use of a lightly dampened mop is quite safe for the occasional wipe over.  Mop in the same direction of the wood grain instead of against it, for best results.

*  If you are going to use cleaners on your wood floors make sure that they are professionally designed products that are right for your particular type of flooring; be careful that you don't mark or discolour your floor by using inappropriate chemical cleaners or home remedies.  Never use abrasive cloths or steel wall on your wood floor no matter how ingrained the stain is.

*  Table legs and sharp furniture surfaces should have some type of felt padding protectors attached to them in order to stop scratches and wearing on the floor.  Make sure that the protectors are well attached and check them regularly to make sure they haven't fallen or been broken off.

*  A rug or two scattered on the floor may provide an extra layer of protection to minimise wear and tear of your floor; move the rugs around from time to time to avoid patchy wood owing to sunlight damage and fading.   Especially in high traffic areas with a lot of people walking across the floor you many be wise to install a carpet runner that keep feet and dirty shoes off the actual wood itself.  Discourage the wearing of high heel shoes and stilettos on wood floors as they can easily mark and damage the surface.  Also, it is a good idea to have people leave their shoes at the front door or change in to a special pair of clean indoor shoes before walking on the wood flooring;  your true friends won't mind the small inconvenience out of respect for you and your home.

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