HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HARDWOOD FLOORS

Hardwood floors are chosen for homes for their durability, beautiful appearance, and easy clean-up. They will last for many years, without the need for refinishing, with proper care. The Household Genie has some tips on the care and maintenance of your hardwood floors.

Hardwood floors are available in many stains and finishes, as well as different widths. Some people prefer hardwoods to carpeting in their entire home. Others prefer hardwood in the living areas of the home and carpet the stairs and bedrooms. It's all a question of personal preference. But hardwood flooring is becoming increasingly popular in the kitchen, an area that has high traffic, spills from food and/or beverages, and the possibility of utensils (such as knives) falling off the table or kitchen counter top.Yikes! But help is on its way! You can still have the beauty of hardwood in high traffic areas and be able to maintain the same beauty for years. Here are some tips:

1. Wipe up all spills immediately. I know sometimes we don't even realize that something has spilled on the floor until after it's already dried up, but aside from these times get to the spill quickly! And by spills I also mean water droplets, whether from washing dishes or from small pieces of ice falling onto the floor (from refrigerator on-the-door units).

2. Use a dust mop daily, such as a Swiffer, to keep up with the dust and small crumbs.

3. Vacuum regularly,  to prevent ground-in dirt. Do not use a vacuum that you cannot shut off the beater bar. Beater bars are bad for hardwood! If you cannot shut the beater bar off, which would be a switch most likely on the handle that  lets you switch from carpeting to hard floors, then just use the attachments to your vacuum to safely and quickly get the job done. If your vacuum does not have attachments, then just use a soft-bristled broom to sweep up the floor.

4. Use a cleaner about once a week that is safe for your hardwoods. I have Bruce hardwood flooring, and I use their cleaner. It is an awesome product! My hardwoods have a shine on the surface, and this product leaves no residue to dull the shine. It even has a long handled mop included in the kit with a pad on the bottom to quickly go over your floors!

5. Protect your floors from scratches. Dogs and cats can quickly scratch your hardwood, particularly if you  have the higher gloss woods. Soft Paws is a great product that I use with my dog because I noticed the hardwoods were getting scratched from his nails. They fit right over your dog's or cat's nails and last for weeks! You apply them with a glue-type adhesive that is included with the product. And they come in all kinds of colors!!  If your floors do get scratched, you can touch it up with products that can touch up the color; however the scratch will usually still be visible, depending on the lighting and time of day. So the best advice is be  proactive and prevent scratches before they happen!

Hardwood floors are not inexpensive. And refinishing the surface of them is not inexpensive. So taking care of them with these few simple tips can protect your investment and give you years of lasting beauty of your hardwoods.