Use Rugs and Mats to Protect High Traffic Areas
Avoiding surface scratches from hardwood floors won’t be an issue with the right protection. Rugs and mats are great ways to protect your floors while offering an extra bit of style. Use a mat or rug wherever your floors get the most traffic. Be sure to use mats inside and outside main entrances to eliminate as much dirt as possible from getting on your floors. Avoid rubber-backed mats since they can lock in moisture and damage floors.
Take Off Your Shoes
Shoes with hard heels or points can be very dangerous for floors. High heels and sports shoes do not evenly distribute weight, making scratches on hardwood floors a very real risk. Even shoes with soft bottoms can still track and grind dirt into your floors. The best remedy is to remove shoes altogether, offering your guests soft slippers to use when in your home.
Protect Your Floors from Furniture
E-Z glides or Fabric pads are excellent ways to guard your floors from surface scratches on hardwood floors due to furniture. Plan your selection of pads according to how often the furniture is moved. Avoid plastic wheeled furniture since they can easily scratch and mar floors.
Trim Your Pet’s Claws
While nails and claws are a source for scratches on hardwood floors, you don’t have to choose between having an exquisite floor and having a pet. Make sure pet nails are properly groomed and maintained. Use caution and care when trimming pet claws because improper techniques can harm your pets.
Plan and Follow a Cleaning Schedule
A clean floor is a protected floor. Knowing how often to clean your floors will further aid in preventing major damage. Here’s a quick schedule to follow for keeping your floors in their best condition:
- Daily Schedule — Sweep using Bona Microfiber Floor Mop Dusting Head
- Weekly Schedule — Vacuum/Mop using Bona Microfiber Floor Mop Cleaning Head and Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner
- Monthly Schedule — Bona Concentrate Cleaner and water solution
- Yearly Schedule — Deep Cleaning by Gorsegner Brothers
- Every 3-5 Years — Clean and Re-Coat by Gorsegner Brothers (depending on wear and tear)
With preventative maintenance and care, the fight to remove scratches from hardwood floors gets infinitely easier. The best part about these techniques is that they’re simple and easy, especially when they become part of your normal routine.
The Best Way to Clean Hardwood Floors
When it’s time to clean your floors, here are some hardwood floor cleaning tips to remember:
- Prep your floor for cleaning by sweeping or dust-mopping to get rid of large particles of dirt and debris.
- We recommend Bona Professional Cleaner be used for cleaning + maintaining your wood floors
- Use a fine spray mist to clean your floor in sections. Avoid putting too much liquid on your floors.
- Use a microfiber mop to clean. Traditional mops can work, but they can leave excess water on your floors
PLEASE DO NOT USE THESE PRODUCTS ON YOUR WOOD FLOORS:
- Murphy’s Oil Soap
- Bona Wood Floor Refresher
- Bona Hardwood Floor Polish
- Quick Shine Hardwood Floor Luster
- Weiman Hardwood Polish & Restorer
