Back when the main floor of our house was mostly carpeted, I longed for hardwood floors. I was convinced that switching to hardwood flooring would dramatically increase my quality of life. How could it not, I wondered, when it would be so easy to keep the floor clean?
We ended up switching from carpet to hardwood on our main floor a few years ago. And now I have to laugh a little at how idealistic (or maybe naive) my beliefs were about having hardwood flooring! Because the truth is, it’s very easy to seriously damage your hardwood floor if you don’t know what you’re doing. And I’ve already learned some of those lessons the hard way!
Related: Easily clean hardwood floors in just 3 steps
But I want to put that knowledge to good use by helping others avoid making the same mistakes. So today I teamed up with Flooring Specialists Stanley Steamer To share some of the most common ways people accidentally damage their hardwood floors. If you can avoid these seven pitfalls, it will go a long way toward keeping your floors in great shape.
Related: 9 Things in Your Home You Should Never Clean With Water
7 Things That Can Ruin Your Hardwood Floors
1. Too much sunlight
The sun’s harmful UV rays aren’t just a threat to your skin—they can be bad for your floors, too! Too much direct sunlight can cause your hardwood floor to fade and warp over time. On really sunny days, you can help protect your floors by closing the blinds or drapes against direct sunlight.
2. Using the wrong area rug
It is important to know that certain types of rug backing can damage your hardwood floors. Some rug backings can stain or discolor your flooring, while others can trap gases that warp your floor and ruin the finish. When you’re shopping for an area rug to put on your hardwood, make sure it’s safe for use on hardwood floors!
3. Vacuuming with brush on
Many vacuum Now featured is a connection designed for use on hardwood flooring. Be sure to use it every time you clean your hardwood floors! If you don’t have a hardwood flooring attachment, be sure turn off Brush or beater before vacuuming the hardwood. While a brush or beater is great for cleaning carpets, it can easily leave marks or scratches on hardwood flooring.
4. High heels and belly nails
It’s always a good idea to take off your shoes before going inside, especially when it comes to high heels and hardwood floors. Heels can scratch hardwood flooring, and even leave indentations if the heel surface is small. Pet nails and claws can also scratch your floors (as I personally can thanks to my Grandpappy Milo!) so be sure to trim them often.
5. Using wrong cleaning tools
The way you clean your hardwood flooring can have a huge impact on its appearance and lifespan. Avoid using abrasive tools or harsh cleaning solutions, which can easily damage your flooring. It is the safest technique to clean hardwood in moderation Apply a mild cleaning solution with a soft microfiber mop or mop pad.
Be careful of using cleaning products such as oil soaps to clean certain types of hardwood flooring. Many modern types of hardwood flooring have finishes that do not require waxing. Using oily or waxy cleaners on these floors can leave a residue that can be extremely difficult to remove. (I recently experienced this very problem with my own floors, and had to resort to the tedious task of removing it all by hand on my hands and knees!)
6. Sliding furniture around
Always take the time to lift furniture when you move it over a hardwood floor. Sliding your furniture is a quick way to scratch your nice hardwood floors! And be sure to add felt furniture pads to anything that sits directly on your floor as an added safety measure.
7. Not seeking professional help
About once a year, I take my car in for an interior cleaning and detailing. It helps preserve the value of my car over time and makes it easier for me to keep it clean afterwards! You can experience the same benefits by having your hardwood floors deep cleaned by the professionals at Stanley Steamer. Professional services like these aren’t a luxury—they’re part of responsible ownership and maintenance!
When your Stanley Steamer technician(s) come for your appointment, they’ll start by identifying what type of flooring you have so they can use the best methods to clean it. After vacuuming up any loose soil, they’ll use a pH-balanced cleaning solution, hot water, and a gentle, high-speed scrubber to extract all of the grime out of your floors. And once they’re cleaned, your technician will also make sure they’re completely dry using a fan and microfiber mop! This eliminates any chance of water damage and leaves your floor ready to walk on.
And you can get your pair even more from your Stanley Steamer visit Hardwood Floor Service together Area rug cleaning. That’s exactly what I did, because once I saw how clean my floors looked, I couldn’t bear the thought of covering them with my dusty, dirty area rugs! Their quick cleaning treatment left my rug looking brand new, and it looked great against my super clean floor!
I hope the seven tips I share today prove to be as useful to you as they were to me! Armed with the knowledge to avoid these pitfalls, we can all keep our beautiful hardwood floors in tip-top shape for years to come! 🙂
What’s your best tip or trick for cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors?
