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Hardwood Flooring Mistakes To Avoid

You picked a beautiful hardwood floor and had an expert installation; The last thing you want to do is to squander your investment on hardwood flooring mistakes you can easily avoid. In today's post we will cover some common mistakes we see homeowner's owners make. We hope you take these tips and apply them to maintain the attractiveness and longevity of your investment.

Here are our recommendations for genuine hardwood flooring:

Sweep Regularly

This is the quickest way to keep your hardwood floors looking great. Dust, dirt, and other abrasive particles can scratch and even dull the finish of wood floors over time. Regular sweeping will prevent damage from these particles accumulating and being dragged around.

Use Appropriate Flooring Cleaners

Avoid all petroleum-based cleaners and wet mops. Using the wrong cleaning products on wood products can cause damage over time. We recommend Bona™ Hardwood Floor Cleaner since it's formula is designed for all unwaxed, polyurethane finished floors.

Use An Entrance Mat

This is your first line of defense against water and debris. Without it you may be allowing gritty shoes to drag across your floor, potentially scratching the surface of your wood floor.

Immediately Wipe Up Spills

​The fantastic thing about hardwood flooring is that it is a natural, living product. Unfortunately for us, that natural product wants to absorb water it comes in contact with. Today's wood flooring has features to help resist some moisture but as a general rule of thumb; always wipe up any liquid spills on your wood floor.

Be Mindful of Sun Exposure

The sun causes oxidation in wood planks causing an alteration of coloring in all species of genuine hardwood over time. This can make the covered areas of wood flooring look a different shade than the areas exposed to the sunlight. To combat this we recommend you use a large area mat and move it around the rooms with the heaviest amount of sunlight. And of course, keep blinds or shades drawn when not home to limit discoloring.

Avoid High-Heels

High-heels can damage wood floors due to the striking weight of the heel on the floor. Try to put the heels on as you're exiting the house and remove them at the door when you walk in.

Trim Pet Nails

A win-win for both you and your furry companion. Long nails are uncomfortable for your pet and also a risk to your wood floors. Trim your dog's nails every 1-2 months, or when you start to hear clicking on the floor when they walk.

Protect Your Furniture Legs

We recommend using felt protectors on the legs of every piece of furniture you intend to move. This is an inexpensive way to prevents scratches and dents in your floor. Heavy appliances and furniture should always be lifted to move, not drug.

Do Not Use Steam Mops

Hot steam is destructive to hardwood floors. The combination of heat and moisture are not a good mix for your hardwood floor.

 

We hope these tips can help you maintain the natural beauty of your hardwood floors for years to come. When you are ready to explore flooring options for your home be sure to visit our showroom. We want to make sure you're happy from the first step into our showroom to the first step on your new floor. M.R. Flooring & Remodeling is your one stop shop for flooring in the greater San Antonio. area. Visit us today and see why we are one of the best rated flooring stores & installation teams in Texas.

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