Hardwood flooring is a major investment for your Plano home. Upkeep, however, can be overlooked. Here at Floor Coverings International® of , we know that a new hardwood floor will last for generations with proper care. Take a look at our helpful tips to extend the life of your hardwood.

maintaining hardwood flooring in plano

Immediately

Spills and messes are inevitable, no matter how careful and cautious you are around your hardwood. When this happens, don’t let spills stay for long. Clean them up immediately! This will not only prevent stains, it will also halt potential warping.

When you have hardwood installed, it’s also important to make a few life changes to keep it as fresh and scratch-free as possible. If you have pets, you need to be mindful of their paws and nails. Regularly trim their nails and make sure their paws aren’t dirty as they can cause scratches and track in dirt.

As for your family, instituting a “no shoes on the hardwood” policy is a smart plan, as this will prevent unnecessary scuffmarks.

Daily

It’s important to establish a daily cleaning routine once you have your hardwood installed. We find that microfiber sweepers are the best for hardwood because they wipe off the grime smoothly. A broom is also fine, but make sure to choose one with lighter bristles so you don’t unwittingly scratch your floor when cleaning it.

Weekly

We recommend that you do a deeper clean of your hardwood once a week. The best way to do this is with a vacuum, which catches the smaller bits of dust and dirt embedded around the edges of your floor. We prefer vacuums with a floor brush or hose attachment, as those tend to be the most gentle on flooring. If you only have an upright vacuum, make sure to clean your floor with the “rotating bristle” function turned off, as those bristles can scratch your hardwood.

Every Decade

Scratches and dents are going to happen over time. This is why we recommend that you sand and refinish your hardwood around once a decade. This process involves sanding away the deep-set dents, stains, and scratches on your floor. Followed by a new coat of polish or finish, your hardwood will look as good as the day you had it installed.

This is a particularly difficult task, so we don’t recommend you try it alone. Contact the professionals at Floor Coverings International® of when it comes time to sand and refinish your hardwood.

Are you interested in learning more about hardwood flooring for your Plano home? Our friendly experts at Floor Coverings International® of are here to help! Call us today for a complimentary consultation and visit from our mobile showroom.

Photo by mariakraynova