It doesn’t matter what size property you reside in - whether it's a enormous mansion, a compact semi-detached house or a petite studio apartment - if your home boasts hardwood floors inside, your residence already has a great deal to be proud of. But having wooden flooring means you will need to give it the proper care and attention it requires to keep it looking its very best. So regardless of whether your residence currently has wood floors or you are about to have them installed, it's worthwhile reading up on the way to take care of this gorgeous feature. 

Look out for dust
The commonest enemies of wood flooring are every day dirt, dust and grit. They can damage wood, abrading away its polished finish and spoiling its natural splendor. To help you reduce the level of dust throughout your property, it’s a good idea to spend money on some heavy foot mats and place them at all the entrance doors, in particular the front door. 

It is also wise to create a regular cleaning regime; this enables you to keep on top of clearing away dry dust from your treasured floor. Don't forget to avoid using a revolving brush attachment when vacuuming your floors since this can easily scuff wood. You could further reduce household dust by going over your hardwood floors with a soft damp mop.

Safeguard your floors with pads
Dust is not the only thing that's going to wear wooden floors down. Household furniture, heavy foot traffic as well as the to and fro of sharp little paws will all threaten the beauty of your lovely floors. Thankfully all of these elements are fairly easy to manage. 

Use floor protectors or felt pads under furniture legs to avoid scuffing your floor any time you move things around your house. In the event you need to move your home furniture, lift as opposed to drag to avoid leaving scratches or abrasions. It's possible to further limit wear and tear in high traffic locations such as the hall, kitchen and living room by putting down rugs. Sharp objects such as stiletto heel shoes and even unclipped pet claws may well mark wood. Most scratchy accidents can easily be averted by simply putting on flatter footwear at home and always keeping your pet’s nails clipped short.

Reduce exposure to sunlight
When you are seriously dedicated to keeping your floor surfaces looking beautiful, you're going to want to keep a check on the level of sunlight falling on them. Too much sunlight might cause hard wood floors to fade, pucker or get discoloured. However, you can very easily keep control of the amount of sunlight coming in by installing curtains or blinds on your windows. Should you feel like splurging out a little bit, it's also possible to have your windows coated with UV protection to lessen sun damage. 

Minimize moisture
A lot of water is yet another enemy of wood floors since it could bloat and distort wood, leaving it prone to pest attacks and possibly even decay. In order to eliminate any chance of water damage, never use overly wet mops on your floors. Clean up any sort of wet spills immediately and in the event that conditions are particularly wetter, start using a dehumidifier around your property to lessen moisture damage.

Share a bit of love
Once you have a strong grip on these factors, it's possible to take extra steps to make certain that the real beauty of your wood flooring stands out all the time. Needless to say it all depends on the sort of finish your floors have, whether it's wax, polish, oil or lacquer. You can top it up every few months to leave your floors looking perfect. 

Caring for real wood flooring can appear to be a time consuming task but in fact, it is relatively simple to do. A little bit of effort from you should have you seeing the rewards of owning a beautiful home and having a high property resell value in the years to come. 

The key benefits of hardwood floors have been common knowledge since before Victorian times. Evidence of this still remains today, as lots of Victorian buildings still have their wooden floors down. It's a testament to the durability and reliability of a good quality wooden floor.

How your floor feels
Wooden Floors can be (and are) treated with a range of different oils, lacquers and waxes so as to alter their appearance and feel according to what the customer wants. The majority of wood floors are finished with lacquer. The appearance of lacquered wood flooring is that of a visible gloss with characteristic smoothness. Oiled floors (wax/wood oil) soak the oil in to the top layer of the wood, and, (following a wax finish) usually have a more 'damp' sheen compared to the lacquer alternatives.

Which grade of wood?
You can find different grades of wood floor available, and techniques for measuring them have been set into a standard. This particular industry standard happens to be a well established system of grading and is used across the country; in a similar way that meat is likewise graded by using a national standard. Rustic is the most cost-effective grade, and that is a pleasant way of indicating it's in the lower grade and hence cheaper. It'll usually have more knots and variances in colour throughout the wooden floor. Rustic can set off a nice balance within the room, if “Rustic” is actually the theme. Customers have been known to look for it especially. At the other end of the scale are the select pieces. The select pieces (again very similar terminology to meat grading) are going to be guaranteed not to hold any knots, the colour will also be consistent from one to the next. This is what's selected for an even and “perfect” floor. The grades however don't always represent the quality of the wood, since rustic grades are known to be as durable as select grades.

Which kind of timber should I choose?
Hardwood is perfect for wood floors. Softwood is generally too soft to resist the frequent use, load bearing, scuffs and knocks that a hardwood could withstand. The tougher hardwoods vary from maple, through beech to oak, all of which are perfect for wooden flooring. Trees such as pine and other soft woods are simply not tough enough.

Preserving your wooden floor
Wooden Floors can be maintained and cleaned in a really simply manner. As with every other surface area in a person's home that's cleaned with a cloth or mop, the wood floor can be cleaned in much the same way. It is highly recommended that cleaners try to stick to the usage of non-solvent based cleaning products (and polishes), since the lacquer on the flooring can be subject to corrosion or deterioration whenever 'attacked' by solvents for an extended period. Oiled floors require a “top up” of oil on a biannual basis. The oil can be applied using a cloth and just rubbed in gently all over. It is highly recommended that one uses natural wood oils as opposed to cheaper chemical-based alternatives.

Could it be a long term investment?
Wooden Floors are absolutely a long-term investment. A well-fitted hardwood floor will last a lifetime, and with the proper maintenance and attention, the property owner will not experience any issues. The reason why Victorian-era (and earlier) residences are known to retain their original flooring is because of this very reason. During the cold of the winter months, the wooden floor will contract and likewise, in the summer time, it is going to slightly expand. Installing the floor whilst allowing for these properties, is going to ensure that there's never a problem. The reason why reclamation yards continue to be visited day-in, day-out by eager buyers is because wood floors, when looked after, just never become “useless”.

Health qualities
Wooden floors, it has been proven, are healthier than using carpets and rugs around ones home. Wooden flooring cleans much easier than carpet plus its oils contain anti-bacterial properties, cleaning as they go. Carpets and rugs, on the other hand, often retain dust (as well as dust mites) which may also bother people who have allergies. Greenpeace (amongst others) recommend wood floors. Reports have established that carpeted floors can harbour from 10,000 up to 100,000 dust mites in a single square metre. Carpets also accumulate waste from household pets, all manner of waste walked in from outdoors as well as generally harmful dust which has settled over time.

Considering the huge selection of wood treatments on the market today, it's easy to modify the look of your wood floors as often as you change your carpets and rugs. A wood floor should last a lifetime. It is simple to clean and less maintenance than rugs and carpets. Real wood flooring is and will remain the best flooring you can purchase.