Hardwood flooring is a beautiful choice for almost any room in your home or office and can stay that way for decades as long as they're properly cared for. There are lots of ways to care for your hardwood floor and most of them are preventative.
Dirt, and especially moisture, are natural enemies of a hardwood floor. Even if you choose hardy and durable woods, it is still a good idea to put down rugs on areas that see heavy traffic like door entrances, especially during periods of inclement weather like rain or snow. To prevent slippage, purchase a quality vinyl rug pad – don't use rubber, foam back or plastic pads as they may discolor your wood floor.
You should rearrange the layout of the room from time to time, like the locations of the furniture or rugs. Those types of things block sunlight and since exposure to sunlight's UV rays affects the coloring of your floor over time, if the layout is the same for many years, you could get inconsistent coloring. It might even appear that the areas under the furniture or rugs are discolored.
Carpet runners with non-skid pads are also good to reduce damage in high traffic areas.
Wood flooring is susceptible to natural expansion and contraction depending upon varying humidity levels throughout the year. You could never completely eliminate this, but to minimize it try to maintain a normal indoor relative humidity level of 40-60% year round. Dryer air can cause excessive shrinking of your wood floor. A humidifier is one of the best tools you can use to prevent this, especially during the winter months or if you use a wood stove or electric heat. Concurrently, during periods of excessively damp air, wood tends to expand. You can maintain proper humidity levels with an air conditioner, dehumidifier, or even periodically turning on your heat during the summer months.
All wood floorscan be scratched, gauged, or dented. Sharp or pointed objects, severe impact, or even concentrated weight can damage your wood floor. Be mindful of dropping things, especially heavy things, on your floors, take off those stiletto-style shoes before walking around on them, and keep your pets' nails trimmed and filed. You should also never drag furniture or other objects across the floor. If they're too heavy to lift, clean the dust and grit off thoroughly then use "gliding" furniture pads underneath the object to aid in sliding it across the floor. It's a good idea to use furniture pads under table and chair legs and the feet of dressers or armoires. These can be purchased at your local hardware store or home center.
You will probably never be able to keep your wood floors 100% free of damage, but doing these simple things greatly minimizes indentations and scratches.
For some finishes, light damp mopping does the trick – see your manufacturer's instructions for more specific guidelines. Do not clean or wet mop your hardwood floor with water as it can dull the finish and damage the floor permanently. And never use a wax or cleaner that must be mixed with water, such as an oil soap, as this may totally ruin your floor and you could even lose your warranty. Don't use wax, polish, or abrasive cleaners or scouring powders like Comet, and never under any circumstances use steel wool.
To keep normal amounts of dirt off of your floor, sweep them often with a soft, fine bristle broom. You also should vacuum them once or twice a week, especially if you live on or near a beach where excessive amounts of sand can be tracked in. Again, use a soft brush attachment to minimize scratching. If it gets wet, get rid of that water right away! Remove those spills immediately using a soft towel or wet/dry vacuum, then dry it thoroughly. This is especially important with wood floors with a urethane finish.
Check to see what the manufacturer's recommendation is for a "no wax" cleaner on your urethane-finished floor and use that in conjunction with a clean cloth to rub into spills. Some stains can be stubborn and those may require additional scrubbing with an appropriate scrub pad. You should never apply wax to a urethane floor topically. Periodically clean it by applying a recommended cleaner to a dampened sponge mop, not the floor itself. Do not allow puddles of cleaner to linger on the floor's surface, get them up right away!