Some quick hardwood maintenance tips

Did you just install new hardwood flooring?  Or did you just sand and refinish your hardwood floors?  If so, they should look good as new, and most would like the floors to look like this for as long as possible.

So, here are a few quick tips.

1.  Make sure you wait long enough before walking on and using your new floors if you just had them refinished.   If you used an oil based poly, wait 24 hrs before walking on the floors (socks only), 48 hrs for shoes, 4 days before furniture and 30 days for area rugs.

2.  Get a vacuum specifically made for hardwood floors.  Yes, hardwood has different needs than carpet and most vacuums made for carpets will actually scratch your hardwood floors.  Thankfully, you can easily find a hardwood floor vacuum for a very reasonable price (i.e. usually well under $150).  Check out this article on the best hardwood flooring vacuums for advice on what to buy and where to buy it.

3.  Get the right cleaning products.  I recommend Bona hardwood cleaner and a microfiber mop.  You can see the rest of my recommendations and links to buy these items on Amazon in this post:  Hardwood flooring supplies.

4.  Be extra careful with dogs.  If you just had the floors refinished, the dog should stay off the hardwood for 2 weeks.  Yes, 2 weeks.  I know that this is surprising to most...and inconvenient.  But, a simple solution is use doggie socks (you can find these on the page above for recommended hardwood products.

5.  Take your shoes off.  This is the easiest and best way to prolong the life of your floors.  The dirt in your shoes wear the floors down.  So go for socks or slippers.  Your floors will thank you.  And, bonus, your house will be cleaner.