3 Tips for Maintaining Your Hardwood Flooring

15 08 2012

Hardwood Flooring can be one of the biggest investments you, as a homeowner, will have to make for your home. Whether you’re thinking of purchasing new hardwood flooring, or you are looking for advice on how to maintain your home’s current flooring, check out these 3 tips:

1. PROTECT YOUR FLOOR FROM EXCESSIVE MOISTURE

Hardwood or bamboo flooring and moisture are like water and vinegar: they don’t mix. Hardwood is porous and when exposed to excessive water, such as flooding or spills, the flooring will absorb the water and cause the floor board to swell, which can lead to buckling or warping. Be sure to clean up spills immediately and only install your flooring where there is proper moisture control for hardwood flooring.

2. ADD ACCENT RUGS

Accent rugs can not only spruce up your space, but they do a great job at protecting your floor. Use  accent rugs for high traffic areas in your home such as the doorway or the area near kitchen sink. When people first enter a home, they have a tendency to wipe their feet and can trek in dirt, grit, sand or other abrasive elements from outdoors. Over time, these things will most definitely scratch up the surface of your floor. Throw an accent rug in front of the door, and you’ll save yourself the headache later.

3. USE FURNITURE PADS

Use floor protecting felt pads underneath your furniture ends. Place the pads underneath the legs of your chairs, tables, couches, or any other piece of furniture with sharp edges that come into contact with your floor. The pads come in varying sizes and adhere to the bottom of your furniture surface. No excuses here- You can get a whole set of varying sizes on Amazon for less than the cost of a cup of coffee!