4 Ways to Ruin Your Hardwood Floors

You probably spent a lot of time picking out just the right type of hardwood flooring for your home. You also probably spent a lot of money on your hardwood flooring. Did you know that you are causing damage to your hardwood floors every day? Don’t believe us? Here are five ways you are ruining your hardwood flooring without even realizing it.

1 – You are using the wrong floor cleaner

Using the wrong floor cleaner can cause immediate damage to your hardwood floors. Your hardwood floors need to be handled with care. Different hardwood floors have different finishes. Does your hardwood floor have a polyurethane or oil finish? Different finishes require different cleaners. You might be using a cleaner that is too harsh on your hardwood floors. You might also be using a cleaner with wax in it. The wax will result in buildup on your beautiful floors which is a tough and expensive problem to fix. Make sure you consult with the flooring company you purchased your hardwood flooring from so you know which brand of cleaner is preferred for your specific hardwood floor.

2 – You don’t have a welcome mat

Sure, not having a welcome mat doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it is if you have hardwood floors. Think about walking across your gorgeous hardwood floors with sandpaper on the bottom of your feet. That is what it is like when you walk in from outside and right onto your hardwood floors. All of the rocks, pebbles, gravel and dirt are trekked across your wood floor causing damage to it. It might not be noticeable at first, but over time all of the grit and grime will have caused deep scratches in your hardwood floor that will not be easy to fix. A welcome mat helps brush off the dirt from outside allowing you to enjoy your nice hardwood floors for a longer period of time.

3 –Your pets have long nails

Animals will cause more wear and tear on your flooring, but there are ways to make sure the damage isn’t severe or even permanent. When you take your pet to the vet, do not skip having their nails trimmed. Pets with long nails will cause scratches in your hardwood floors over time. Trimming your pet’s nails is a simple solution to keep your hardwood floors looking great.

4 – Your furniture legs are unprotected

You need to put protective pads under the legs of every piece of furniture that touches your hardwood floors. When your floors are left unprotected, the weight of the piece of furniture can damage the finish and the wood over time. Also, make sure you aren’t dragging heavy furniture or appliances across your hardwood floors. Remember; always lift your furniture when moving it across hardwood flooring. You need to use felt pads underneath the legs of your furniture to keep your floors safe from scratches or dents.

Do your hardwood floors need a good cleaning? Call Langenwalter today to schedule your next appointment or visit our website!