Spruce Up Your Hard Wood Floors With These Tips

Installing hardwood floors seemed like a good idea at the time. After all, most homeowners prefer the timeless look of polished wood floors over carpeted flooring— 66%, to be exact.

But unfortunately, now your wood floors are scuffed, scratched, and have lost their luster, making you wonder if the upfront cost was worth it.

Fortunately, your flooring can easily be restored to its original gleaming state with a little bit of extra care.

Scratches and holes

Fixing scratches and small holes in your flooring is quite easy and only requires a few products:

• pre-mixed wood filler/putty
• mineral spirits
• steel wool or sandpaper
• finishing varnish to coat the end product

Take the steel wool and rub it over the scratch on the floor, sanding over the rough edges. Make sure to follow the natural grain, or you’ll risk further damage.

If the steel wool isn’t cutting it, use sandpaper to even out deeper scratches.

Pour mineral spirits over the sanded area and proceed to fill the scratches using the pre-mixed putty and a spatula. Then, seal the floors with a varnish that matches the rest of your flooring.

Shine

If your floor has lost that valuable shine since they were installed, here are a few ways you can bring it back, so they appear as good as new.

First, avoid harsh cleaners containing bleach or ammonia. You also want to be wary of using water-based cleaners on unfinished wood, as it can damage it and leave watermarks.

Next, try to make a habit out of getting your floors waxed every few months.

You also want to avoid using too many cleaning products at once, as this can lead to build-up and have your floors looking and feeling waxy.

Prevention

Once you’ve spent time used a bit of elbow grease on those scratches and patches, it’s time to think about ways you can keep your floors pristine. You want your hardwood flooring to last, especially after giving them a makeover, so here are some ways you can prolong the shine of your newly polished floors:

• Play with your pets outdoors instead of inside. Their nails can scratch up your floors and undo all of your hard work.
• Have guests leave their shoes at the entrance of your home.
• Clean the floors often. As previously stated, use a natural cleaning agent to keep your floors shiny and strong.
• Add some beautiful accent rugs to the hallways and main areas of your home– think about where you get the most foot traffic.

Wrapping up

Wood flooring can add a classic feel to your home. To ensure that you’re taking the best possible care of your flooring, make sure to keep an eye on scratches, keep the floors clean with a natural cleanser, and take preventative measures to keep them shining for years to come.