Hardwood flooring has become the decorative and practical choice for many homes around the world. It is visually appealing and adds character to any room it is added to. With all sorts of sizes and varieties of wood, designs can fit your style and needs. The most common wood finish is urethane. Urethane is applied in liquid form to produce a smooth, glossy finish that is durable enough to stand day-to-day use.

How do you protect your wood floor finish?

Ideally, you want to protect the floor from dirt and grit, and any other kind of hardened waste. Any hard dirt acts like sandpaper on your wood floor and damages the finish exposing unfinished wood. Look out for dirt under rugs and carpets, under furniture, and from shoes.

Take the following steps to limit any wear and tear to your hardwood floor and avoid serious damage:

At all entrances, place mats, rugs, or pieces of carpet to catch any dirt brought in from outside. Regularly vacuum or shake the mats outside to eradicate accumulated dirt.

Under furniture use floor protector pads. These pads (or alternatively other soft material) should be placed under your furniture and any other large objects that may lay unmoved for several days. Clean your floor protector pads monthly and replace them every six months.

Area rugs are also a good choice. These can be placed in highly-used areas such as the kitchen or entrance hallway. The rugs will reduce the amount of maintenance you’ll have to take on with your hardwood floor, and extend the life of the wood.

Take the following steps to keep your wood finish clean:

Sweep your floors regularly to eradicate dirt. A broom with fine bristles is recommended – especially those with “exploded” bristle tips – for containing and removing unwanted dirt.

You should use a multi-surface vacuum on your hardwood floor. This will make removing dirt much easier. Use a setting that will ensure you don’t trap dirt under the vacuum, and clean the floor once a week.

Any spillages should be cleaned quickly. You can use a damp cloth but always wipe the area afterward with a dry cloth or paper towel leaving no moisture.

Avoid the following when attending to your hardwood floor:

Never use a wet mop as moisture can damage the finish. This obviously means you should remove any accumulated water or liquid from the floor as quickly as possible. Water stains will unfortunately lead to the floor needing a re-finish which can be a costly affair.

Also, never use commercial dust-removal products on the floor. As these products are designed for furniture they can make your floor dangerously slippery and can also damage the finish. You should also avoid using wax as it will dull the finish and could again lead to expensive repairs.