Protecting Wood Flooring

May 02, 2010, By Greg Hoard 1 comment

Greg Hoard

Steps to Follow

• Place furniture glides under every leg of each piece of furniture on the wood floors. The glides come in felt and plastic. Some are fabric-faced. Even with the glides in place, never scoot the furniture across the floor. If you are going to move a piece, lift it completely off the floor and carry it to the new location, replacing the glides beneath each leg.
• It’s best to place throw rugs at each entryway to protect wood flooring. They will catch dirt and debris from being tracked in and ground into the wood. The smallest pebble – even grains of sand – can mar the surface.
• If you have wood floors in your kitchen, make sure there is a rug in front of the kitchen sink to catch any water that might spill. If you spill a large amount of liquid, immediately dry it up.
• This is nearly impossible and sometimes a real pain, but if you can get people to remove their shoes before walking on the floors – especially high heels – that will really help. Spikes and cleats are a real no-no. Shoes with sharp heels or spikes will exert 8,000 pounds per square inch and can do significant damage to vintage flooring.
• Basic cleaning is paramount to the appearance of wood flooring. Use soft brooms, a vacuum made for wood floors and a floor duster with disposable cleaning cloths to keep dirt off the floor. The slightest amount of dirt can scar the floor just from people walking around. Use damp towels and cloths to wipe up any spills. Don’t use a wet mop. Standing water of any kind is the worst enemy for a wood floor. One a week – depending on traffic – use a professional hardwood floor cleaner to ensure a deep cleaning. At all costs, avoid products designed for vinyl or tile floors. These products will dull the finish and make the floors slippery.
• Finally, control the humidity in the rooms with wood flooring. The optimum condition is between 40 and 60 percent humidity. During winter months – or when the heat is on in the house – this is particularly important. Humidifiers are a real help in keeping the floors looking great.

Wood floors are wonderful, but they do demand your attention.  

Greg Hoard is the senior writer and former editor of Cincinnati Profile magazine. He is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.

The above story refers to products made by Procter & Gamble Company, the parent company of Procter & Gamble Productions, which owns ManoftheHouse.com. The creator of this content received either direct or indirect remuneration from Procter & Gamble Productions.