If you have thought about changing your flooring and have decided on hardwood flooring then you have made a great choice, but your hardwood floors will need to be maintained. Hardwood flooring is made from mature trees, and is treated when it is finished. Maintaing hardwood floors can be difficult because they scratch easy and also absorb moisture.
It is not a good idea to leave a pool of water on your hardwood floors. The moisture will go into the cracks in between the slates and they will swell as they absorb the water. If water happens to be spilt in even a small spot and sits it can still be seen. If there happens to be any liquid at all spilt on the hardwood floor you need to clean it up immediately. When you clean your hardwood floor you can use a damp mop but only damp. You may want to use a floor cleaner for hardwood, like old furniture usually. Either way only a damp mop should be used.
Dents and aslo scratches happen to hardwood floors often. Women wearing high heels are one of the worse things that your hardwood floors can endure. Over time any furniture legs can dent or scratch the floors. You can choose to put area rugs under the furniture to protect the floors or you can put felts on the bottoms of the furniture legs. This can be the same as old furniture to many people. You may also choose to add area rugs to any areas that are highly traveled in your house.
Some homeowners like the character that scratches and dents give the floor. But when you feel that you are in fact sick of them you can get your hardwood flooring refinished. If you have your hardwood floors refinished every decade or so and keep on top of protecting your hardwood floors, they will look the best, just like old furniture usually. Moving anything across your hardwood floors to letting your dog run in the house can cause scratches and dents.
