Hardwood floors are a timeless addition to any home. Whether you’re building a new home or having custom home renovation done in an existing house, they are a classic and ever-popular choice of flooring option.

No matter what type of hardwood floor you choose for your home, the effect is the best when your floors are polished, gleaming, and flawless. This can be easy enough to achieve when the flooring is new, but a few months or years in, this can seem like a more challenging task.

Though keep your hardwood floors well-maintained can seem like a complicated and time-consuming task, it’s actually relatively simple to do so. Here are a few tips to follow to make sure your floors continue to look as good as new:

CLEAN IMMEDIATELY:

If you spill anything on your flooring, clean it up immediately. It is best to use a dry or damp cloth to do so – mops can cause more damage over time as they raise the humidity level of the wood more than a small cloth does.

MAINTAIN THE HUMIDITY LEVEL:

Wood expands and shrinks depending on moisture levels, making it susceptible to cracking, splitting, and gapping. In order to make sure that your floors are at an equilibrium moisture level, keep your home’s temperature stable, at around 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, ensure that no wet shoes or feet are on your wooden floors.

USE AREA RUGS:

Scratches are some of the most persistent concerns on hardwood floors. The simplest way to reduce and prevent scratching of floors is to use area rugs or furniture pads for your furniture – this ensures that should you need to move any around, it doesn’t accidentally scratch the flooring.

CHOOSE YOUR CLEANING PRODUCTS CAREFULLY:

It’s easy to use the same cleaning products for your floors that you use for the rest of the home. However, experts recommend that you avoid using the following products on your floors:

• Ammonia-based cleaners
• Bleach
• Acidic cleaners like vinegar
• Polishes
• Acrylic finishes
• Abrasive cleaning soaps
• Wax-based products

These products can cause long-lasting or permanent damage to your floors because of how harsh they can be. When you do clean your flooring, use a damp cloth and gentle soap, or consult an expert.

REFINISHING:

Your hardwood floors should be refinished every 3-5 years, especially if there are any scratches on your floors or they are looking dull. Refinishing will help restore your floors to their original appearance. 

The best season to get your flooring refinished is spring, as the warmth allows you to open all your windows for proper ventilation. Make sure to consult a professional when looking to get your flooring refinished – sometimes, buffing your floors may be all that is needed.