How to care for hardwood floors

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How to care for Hardwood Floors
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Follow these easy steps and youll soon worship
the ground you walk on.
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Tread Lightly
You dont have to enforce a strict no-shoes
policy, but whenever possible, avoid walking on
wood floors in high heels, which can easily dent
the surface. Furniture can scratch wood, too, so
adhere felt pads to the bottoms of all chair and
table legs. Put doormats outside every entrance
to keep out dirt, sand, and salt. If you take
this precaution, youll prevent particles on the
soles of your shoes from damagingand possibly
even removingyour floors finish, says Brett
Miller, the director of education at the National
Wood Flooring Association.
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Stay Cool
The ideal temperature for wood floors is 60 to 80
degrees Fahrenheit, with a 30 to 50 percent
humidity level. Keep the thermostat in that range
year-round and youll lessen the chance of planks
gapping and buckling, which is caused by drastic
changes in heat and moisture, says Miller. But
dont sweat slight heat fluctuations The room
temperature has to change radically and stay that
way for a prolonged period to affect the wood.
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Keep Dust in Check
Debris takes a toll on a floors sheen. Sweep or
vacuum twice a weekor every day, if youre up
for it. Once a week, use a microfiber mop with a
pH-neutral cleaner (like Bona Hardwood Floor
Cleaner 9.50, us.bona.com) or a homemade
solution (1 tablespoon distilled vinegar in 1
gallon of water) to wipe up stuck-on dirt. Avoid
products that claim to shine, polish, or
rejuvenate they often contain additives, like
acrylic wax, which create a buildup, says Josh
Frink, the wood-floor chairman for the Institute
of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration
Certification.
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Bring in Pros
Properly maintained floors may never require
replacement. Many wood floors on the East Coast
are well over 100 years old, says Frink. But
when the wood loses its luster, hire an expert to
apply a new coat of finish. If your floors see a
lot of foot traffic, food spills, or pet
mischief, have the surface sanded every 7 to 10
years or whenever you notice worn areas, loss of
stain color, or gouges.
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RESOURCES realsimple.com
http//bestbuyflooringcenter.com