If you have hardwood floors in your home, then you likely know the fear of ruining them.
Hardwood flooring can really take a home to a whole new level. It is so classy and sophisticated, yet also so homey and comfortable. They really are the perfect floors. That is, if you know how to take care of them.
You should absolutely never do these 10 things to your hardwood floors if you want to keep them looking spiffy.
While well-cared-for hardwood floors are gorgeous, there's nothing more unattractive than scuffed-up planks. It's easy to ignore your floors for a while, and then all of a sudden find them almost completely ruined. The worst part is that the more they get ruined, the harder and more expensive they will be to fix.
If you want to keep your hardwood floors looking nice, follow these 10 rules!
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1. Roll Around Using Hard Casters
There are specific kinds of casters, such as ones made of rubber, that you should use on your hardwood floors instead. The typical hard casters will wear down your floor, even though you may think that having your furniture roll around — rather than scrape — on the hardwood would be better.
2. Walk On Them With Shoes
If you're wearing shoes with any kind of heel, you're likely to scuff up your floors, leaving it irreparably damaged. But that's not the only reason to wear socks or slippers indoors instead of shoes. If your kicks are wet when you walk inside, the moisture can warp your hardwood. That's no good!
3. Leave Rugs In One Spot
According to the experts at Log Home Guide, leaving rugs in just one spot will lead to uneven coloring on your hardwood floors. The sun will gradually bleach the color out, leaving a darker area underneath undisturbed rugs or furniture. It will be very difficult to fix this once the damage is done.
4. Let Your Dog Loose On Them With Long Nails
It's true that part of owning a dog is accepting that some of your things will inevitably get ruined. That's just life, folks! However, it doesn't mean that you can't take preventative measures to ensure that as little damage as possible is done. Making sure to trim your dog's nail is the first step to a relatively un-scuffed floor, according to JKE Hardwood Flooring.
5. Use Vinegar To Clean Them
Vinegar is great for a lot of things, but cleaning your hardwood floors is not one of them. The acidity in the vinegar will strip away the chemicals used to seal the planks, eventually leaving you with a dull look. Use a pH-neutral cleaner instead, as advised by the experts at Bona.
6. Use Steam Mops To Clean Them
Steam mops are great for tile flooring, so definitely don't get rid of yours if you have one! However, when used on hardwood floors, the moisture can wreak havoc. The wood might absorb moisture and warp, among other things, as noted by Wood Floors Online.
7. Go Too Long Without Refinishing
Floor Craft Sanding recommends that you refinish your hardwood floors every 10-15 years, depending on the wear and tear that the floors in your home are exposed to. If you don't refinish, the damage will go directly to the floorboards themselves, instead of the protective finish, making it more expensive and annoying in the long run.
8. Pour Cleaner Directly On Them
The flooring experts at Pergo do not recommend pouring whichever cleaning solution you chose directly onto the floor — unless you want the liquid to pool and get absorbed by the wood. This may very well leave an unsightly stain. Instead, wet your mop with the liquid first (again, avoiding the use of a steam mop).
9. Forget To Use Door Mats
One preventative measure that you can take for your hardwood floors is to use door mats at all of your entryways. Even if you try to take your shoes off right at the threshold of your home, that area right at your door will get absolutely worn down and ruined if you don't use a door mat!
10. Leave Your Furniture Unprotected
The most simple solution for preventing nicks and dings in your hardwood floors is to put sticky pads on the bottoms of your furniture. It's an easy thing to do, so just make sure you don't forget!
Do you do any of these things to your hardwood floors? Please SHARE with your family and friends on Facebook!
