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Easy, Eco-Friendly Ways to Care for Your Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is often considered a high-maintenance flooring option. It is prone to nicks, bumps, scratches, and stains, and repairing or refinishing it can be costly. However, with these simple and environmentally-friendly tips, you can prevent many of those nicks and scratches before they ever happen, and keep your hardwood looking fresh and beautiful. Scratch […]

Hardwood flooring is often considered a high-maintenance flooring option. It is prone to nicks, bumps, scratches, and stains, and repairing or refinishing it can be costly. However, with these simple and environmentally-friendly tips, you can prevent many of those nicks and scratches before they ever happen, and keep your hardwood looking fresh and beautiful.

Scratch Prevention

Use Scratch Guards on Your Furniture. Whether you have heavy couches and oak bookcases or small and light chairs, tables, and shelves, foam scratch guards are a must for every piece of furniture that will touch your hardwood floor. Even the largest and heaviest of your furniture will have to be moved from time to time, and they are also the most likely to cause deep gouges in your floor.

Use Rugs in High-Traffic Areas. For that corner of the living room where the grandkids like to play, around the dining table where chairs are endlessly scraping back and forth, or the armchair in the den where you always seem to drop something near every time you sit down, rugs are essential for keeping your floor looking good.

Choose Rugs and Carpet with Hardwood-Friendly Padding. Did you know that the underside of some rugs and carpets can actually damage your hardwood floors? The carpet professionals at Windows, Floors & Decor can help you choose carpets and rugs that will protect your floor instead, or padding that you can use under your existing carpet.

Wood Protection

Mop Properly with Eco-Friendly Cleaners. Improper mopping can warp your floor over time, and harsh chemicals in some cleaners can damage the wood. Use an all-natural cleaner, or mix a cup of vinegar with a gallon of warm water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Squeeze all the excess liquid out of the mop before it hits the floor, re-mop with plain water after, and towel dry your floor to leave a beautiful streak-free shine.

Polish the Eco-Friendly Way, Too. Harsh chemicals in your wood polish can be just as bad for your floor as the chemicals in mainstream cleaners. Choose an all-natural polish, or make your own by mixing a cup of olive oil with a few tablespoons of lemon juice. Use a soft cloth, preferably microfiber, to apply a very small amount to your floor, then rub the polish in the direction of the wood grain.

Research Before Refinishing. There are literally hundreds of environmentally-friendly products out there that you can use to refinish your floor. Instead of grabbing the cheapest solvents and wood stains you can find at your local hardware store, do a little research to find a product that is good for your floor, your family, and your planet. If you must sand your hardwood, make sure to wear a mask and get the kids out of the house first! Then re-stain with a natural wood stain – you can even use strong coffee or tea – and seal your floor with an all-natural alternative to polyurethane.

With these simple tips, you can feel good knowing that you are keeping your hardwood floor in excellent condition, maintaining the value of your house, and helping to make our planet a greener place.