St. Louis, MO, Sept. 5--In your grandmother's day, caring for a wood floor was a real chore. Today, however, hardwood floors offer busy families a low-maintenance, yet durable and beautiful, flooring alternative.
The National Wood Flooring Association states that wood floors will last a lifetime when properly maintained.
"Today's wood floors are easy to maintain," says Wayne Cotton, president, NWFA. "In the past few decades, tremendous strides have been made in the industry with finishes, and you no longer need to get down on your hands and knees to clean and wax a wood floor. In fact, routine maintenance of today's hardwood floors is a breeze."
The NWFA recommends regular sweeping of hardwood floors with a soft bristle broom or dust mop to remove surface dirt and debris, which is the main cause of scratches and wear on hardwood floors. If your floor contains beveled edges, the NWFA recommends using a vacuum with a soft bristle brush attachment to remove dirt and debris from between the floorboards. You also can eliminate much wear and tear on your floors by placing scatter rugs at all entryways to catch dirt before it gets to your floors.
"That's pretty much all you need to do," states Cotton. "Then, as needed, you'll want to clean your floor with a wood floor cleaning product that has been recommended by the flooring manufacturer or your installer."
Cotton recommends that you consult with a professional wood flooring installer for specific maintenance recommendations, and states that following these simple maintenance procedures can help assure that your wood floor lasts a lifetime.
For more information about wood flooring maintenance, visit the Caring for Wood Floors section of www.woodfloors.org. For specific questions, use the Comments and Questions section of www.woodfloors.org, or contact the NWFA's technical department at 800-422-4556.
