At Home: Caring for your hardwood floor

Hardwood floors are beautiful, durable and are a lifetime investment that can add value to a home. But proper care is important to keep them in top condition.

Dents and scratches

Remember, all hardwood flooring will experience some denting and scratching. Hardwood floors are not intended to look like table tops — they are intended to look good from five feet way, not five inches.

Prevent some dents by instituting a 'no high heels' policy on your wood floors, and by putting clean, soft pads on the bottoms of furniture legs or supports.

Keep it clean

Never clean your hardwood floor with water or a water mixture, which can cause problems with the floor's finish. Never use wax or 'oil soaps' on top-coated floors. Instead, use only manufacturer-recommended cleaners and a terry cloth mop.

Sweep, vacuum or dust at least weekly. Dirt and grit act like sandpaper on the floor's finish. Door mats can help keep dirt and grit outside.

Light and air

Hardwood floors are photosensitive — they will change color when exposed to light and air. When an area rug or piece of furniture is moved after several months, the hardwood floor underneath will likely look different from the surrounding flooring. If this is a concern, rearrange furniture and area rugs frequently to allow the floor color to shift more consistently, or choose a species of hardwood that is less photosensitive.

Humidity

Hardwood floors will take on and give off moisture like a sponge, causing the flooring to expand and contract as the humidity in the room changes. Gaps between the boards are common when the humidity is low, such as in the winter. The key is to keep the humidity in the home between 35 and 65 percent year-round. Using a humidifier in winter and a dehumidifier in summer can help. However, some movement is unavoidable. The wider the flooring, the larger the expected gaps.

Hamm's Home Interiors Inc. can handle all of your design needs. Give us a call or visit our showroom today.

1134 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City; (319) 354-1881; hammshomeinteriors.net