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By: Brian Dickson
Solid hardwood floors look great. They have a tough chunky
look that spells quality and long life. And they will last
long and look magnificent throughout if you take the effort
to look after them. It's not difficult, and the right kind
of care will add years to your beautiful hardwood floor.
1. The worst enemies of your hardwood floor are grit, sand
and dirt. These three act like sandpaper grinding, scraping
and dulling the shiny surface until it becomes ugly. Use
small mats near outside doors to prevent the dirt getting
further into your house.
2. Water allowed to stand on any part of your hardwood
floor can cause warping and discoloration. Be sure to wipe
up any spills promptly.
3. Re-arranging the furniture is fine, but lift it rather
than drag it. This will avoid scratches.
4. The sun can be strong and have much more power than
you may think in mid summer. Direct sunlight can discolor
a hardwood floor. Protect it with drapes, curtains or blinds.
5. Clean your hardwood floor by using a good broom, a canister
vacuum with a special bare floor attachment, or a good dust
mop.
6. If your floor does get a bad scratch in it, get a scratch
filler kit of the right color at your local hardware store.
Sand and smooth the affected area first, then mix the solution
to get the exact right color. When it has dried, lightly
smooth with a low grit sandpaper, then polish.
7. Pets are among your hardwood floor's biggest enemies.
They have claws and nails that scratch surfaces. Keep your
pet's nails well trimmed. Also, keep pet food containers
off the floor surface. Pets always spill food around the
containers, which will damage the floor over time. Use newspaper
or something more durable to protect the floor.
About the author:
Brian Dickson is a DIY enthusiast with a lifetimes experience
behind him. When he’s not fixing up the family home
in rural southern Massachusetts, he’s attending to
his website at: http://www.alphahardwoodfloor.com/
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