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Preventative Hardwood Maintenance
Even during a busy week, you can easily maintain your hardwood floors and keep them shining! These preventative hardwood care measures will greatly help:
- Use entrance mats for guests to scrape footwear before entering the home.
- Keep a shoe rack by the entrance for footwear removal during inclement weather.
- Place area rugs in high-traffic areas and use area rug pads underneath all rugs to protect your hardwood floors.
- Trim pet nails regularly to prevent scratching the wood surface.
- Brush pets frequently to reduce the amount of pet dander in the home.
Dirt & Debris
Regular sweeping with a gentle bristle broom or dust-mopping is the most effective way to remove dirt, debris, dust, and pet dander from your hardwood floors. This practice will keep particles from becoming abrasive and scratching the surface. Review your hardwood manufacturer's warranty before vacuuming or investing in a robot vacuum cleaner.
Spills & Stains
It’s important to treat spills on your hardwood floors as soon as they occur, to prevent any damage from moisture. Gently lift any solid material with a spoon, then absorb any liquid spill with a dry, clean cloth and paper towels. Use a hardwood-specific cleaner and paper towels to spot-treat if needed, then ensure the wood surface dries in a timely manner afterward.
Bonus Tips
Keep a hardwood-specific cleaner, such as Shaw’s Hard Surface Cleaner, on hand for spills, pet accidents, and dirty footsteps. If you want to deep-clean your hardwood floors by wet-mopping or using a Swiffer WetJet system, review your hardwood manufacturer's guidelines first and use as little liquid as needed. Always ensure the surface dries afterward!
