Wooden floors have become the most commonly used in recent times. They are known to have a long lasting shine and glamor for the home. While the use of tiles and carpets may still be preferred for bedrooms,wood is the best option for any other areas of the house. In comparison with other floor types, wood is easier to clean and is most suitable when it comes to allergies. However, due to wear and tear, it tends to lose its shine. The most common causes for this is foot traffic, scratches and high heel squeaking.

shiny hardwood flooring

The following is a list of 10 tips from http://www.homestadna.com/ to help maintain the shine of your hardwood floor.

1. Sweep the floor regularly or vacuum wit a soft brush. Gathering of soil particles makes a wooden floor look dull.Sweeping or vacuuming keeps out most of the abrasive dirt from scratching the floor. In addition to this, keeping rugs at all entrances prevents most of the dirt from going past the doorway. This means that the floor will not be gritted by dirt from outside. As a matter of fact doormats have been proven to eliminate over 80 of dirt from getting into the house.

2. Wet spills on should be removed as soon as possible using a soft cloth or towel. Water should never be used to clean a wooden floor because it may seep in and ruin the flooring. It is advisable to use a dry or damp mop for cleaning it. Cleaning once a week with recommended specially formulated wooden floor cleaning materials is the best method to keep the shine.

3. Never pull/push or do any form of dragging on wooden floors. This dents the floor and scratches thus ruining its shine. You should lift furniture from one place to the other to avoid this. Any form of dragging is not good for the floor no matter how short the distance may be. For people with pets, trimming nails should be done regularly to avoid scratching.

4. Maintaining the humidity of the home is important in preventing expansion and contraction of wooden floors. This is especially during winter season when the air is dry. A humidity of between 40 and 60 degrees is advised.

5. Age changes the color of hardwood floor. It is important to keep rotating floor rags around the house to maintain uniformity. Mats with rubber and plastics should be avoided as they may dent the flooring.

6. Placing furniture pads on the legs of all chairs, tables and stands prevent these from scratching the floor in case you decide to move them.

7. Changes in weather is beyond your control and maintaining a certain temperature in your home is expensive. These changes cause wood to expand and contract. While expanding, wood may crack. Applying a wood filler may seal some of the gaps. Alternatively, these problems can be solved by a humidifier.

8. Polish the floors periodically

9. Get advise from the manufacturer on the best materials to use for cleaning the floor.

10. Ensure that all high traffic areas have mats that prevents scratching and these should not be sticky.

Maintaining the shine of a wooden floor gives us a sense of social satisfaction. With the above tips, you are guaranteed to expect the maximum satisfaction an individual can derive from wood floor.