Cleaning Hardwood Floors to Protect Your Investment

Source: HouseLogic

Learn how to keep your hardwood flooring in pristine condition, no matter their age.

Many homeowners admit they have no clue about cleaning hardwood floors, according to surveys from the National Wood Flooring Association. But what you don’t know about hardwood floor cleaning and care could be hurting your flooring — and maybe even your home’s value.

“Hardwood floors are a big investment, and keeping them in great shape is all about preventing damage,” says Kevin Crawford, co-owner at TexFix, a handyman service in San Antonio and a real estate broker associate-owner at Crawford Luxury. “We see a lot of floors that have been scratched, warped, or dulled because of the wrong cleaning methods or just everyday wear and tear.”

Hardwood floors can add value to a home. Their timeless appeal is likely why wood flooring consistently ranks as one of the top 10 home features that home buyers say they want most when shopping for a home, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ “What Home Buyers Really Want” survey. Not to mention, homeowners rate hardwood flooring as one of their favorite remodeling projects, according to the National Association of REALTORS® “Remodeling Impact Report.“

Plus, wood flooring may be a wise investment in the long run: “Put in hardwoods, and if you take care of them, you’ll never have to install new flooring in your home again,” says Shawna Eikenberry, owner of Footprints Floors Raleigh. “You can just patch, repair, and even refinish them to change the look,” she adds. And they can last for decades.

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