Protecting Your Wooden Flooring

So you finally got the wooden flooring that you have always dreamed of and now you have to figure out how to protect this investment. There are many things that you can do to ensure the longevity and preserve this type of floor and it can be a daunting task but it can be accomplished when you have the know-how. You should be sure to place cloth furniture covers or felt pads on the feet or legs of your tables, chairs, and heavier furniture. Not only will they protect your floors but add to the ease of moving your furniture around the room as you wish.

When it comes to moving extremely large items such as refrigerators and stoves you should place a large blanket and plywood under these items to protect the flooring. You should also consider removing your shoes before walking on wooden flooring, especially if you wear high heels or other types of shoes such as cleats as they have a tendency to dig into the flooring and can leave permanent indentations. Using area rugs with a thick foam backing are a great way to help protect large areas of the floor, especially in doorways where dirt can get tracked in easily.

Remember to not let wet or damp rugs sit too long on a hardwood floor as this can cause swelling and damage. It is very important to wipe up spills quickly and properly clean the flooring regularly. For shiny floors many experts recommend using olive oil and not waxy products which can cause buildup. It would be wise to alternate the use of waxy products with natural ones to eliminate floor dulling. Never use a regular vacuum on wood flooring or you will only cause harm. It is important to use something that is just made to sweep up wooden floors or a good old fashioned broom.

Did you realize that even sunlight, over time, can cause fading of your floors? In order to help prevent this, periodically move your area rugs to different parts of the floor to give an even appearance as the floor ages. You may also want to keep curtains closed in the areas the bright sunlight is shining in during the day. Using a humidifier in the winter time may really help to maintain the humidity in your home at a 40 to 50 percent ideal level and prevent too much wood movement and shrinkage.

As you can see there are many ways to help extend and beautify your wood flooring. Take the time and you can get a lifetime of enjoyment out of your investment.

By: Mark J Gregory

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Mark Gregory is writing on behalf of Rivendell Carpets, who offer Bristol carpets and Carpets Bristol