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Hardwood flooring is one of the most appealing and easy to clean flooring a home can have. Hardwood floors also add tremendous value to a home and will last a very long time if they are properly maintained. Regular care of a hardwood floor is a simple process that will go a long way. Regularly sweeping the floor with a broom is an effective task that prevents scratches on the surface of the floor. You may also consider using a dust mop, which can be treated to collect more dust in an easier process. Mopping the floor should be performed sparingly with a mop that is slightly damp. A slightly damp head will keep the water from forming puddles, which may leak through cracks and harm your floor panels. Periodically waxing your floor after you mop it can give your flooring a brand new appearance and act as a barrier between you and the flooring finish. Waxing will protect the floor from scratches and slight wear dents. Waxing, however, is only a temporarily solution for floor maintenance. It is not recommended to wax a floors surface if you plan to refinish it anytime soon. There are a few things that can be very harmful to wood flooring. Water can warp the wood panels if the floor is not properly finished. This can cause the panels of a floor to lift up, created an unappealing and uneven walking surface. In order to protect your floor from water damage, it is recommended to clean up a spill immediate after it happens. Taking preventive measures such as finishing the floor with a polyurethane finish is also highly recommended. A floor that is properly finished is nearly impossible to being exposed to water damage. You do not need to finish a floor annually. Just be sure to properly maintain your floor. If you notice a large amount of scratches and chips in the hardwood flooring, it may be time to sand down the finish, re-stain, and reapply a finish coating to the floor. Dirt and grit act as sandpaper to a wood floor. They can cause scratching, dulling, or dents in the surface, which have potential to cause greater problems down the road. In heavy traffic areas, placing a runner or a floor mat will help prevent this from happening. Floor mats are a great decorative feature that aids in elongating the lifetime of your floors. Do not use oil soaps to clean hardwood flooring. Oil soaps can build up and create a lot of problems when it comes time to apply a finishing coat to the floor. Neutral pH cleaners are created specifically for hardwood and are a highly recommended product. Furniture is one of the leading causes of damage on hardwood flooring. People find it is much easier to move furniture by dragging it across the surface. This act, however, causes scratching in the floor. Always lift furniture to move it unless you apply a felt contact to the legs. Felt is a great product because it can be applied simply with one hand and it protects the floor from sharp furniture surfaces. George Henderson has been living in Hawaii since he was discharged from the Navy more than thirty years ago. He calls Honolulu home and couldn't imagine liviing anywhere else. He has recently refinished his hardwood floors and can't wait to build some stairs for the back deck in the coming months. HOUSEWORK!!!
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