So you just had your floors redone, and they are gorgeous! Now you just have to make sure not to make any of these four common mistakes that could be decreasing the life of your floors. Some of these are no-brainers, but they could still make life a big mess in the long run. Let’s take a look.

#1 Using the wrong cleaners, or cleaning methods

Many people use vinegar to clean their floors but, vinegar could actually be harming your floors. Because vinegar is acidic, it can corrode the finish or wear layer off of your floors, leaving them dull, and more prone to further damage. Mopping with vinegar and water can lead to swelling and puckering because of standing water left over from the mop. On that same thought, traditional mopping can leave puddles of water on the floor, where that may be fine for vinyl flooring or ceramic tile, any wood or wood composite floor will absorb that water and swell or discolour, or both. using a damp mop or even spot cleaning can prevent this issue. Another way that you can inadvertently be wrecking your floors, is by using the vacuum beater bar on your hard surface flooring. The beater bar is designed to fluff your carpet fibers, so it is highly likely to scratch up your flooring, especially hardwood. I would suggest using a hard surface vacuum attachment, or sweeping to clean up your floors.

#2 Not protecting your floors

You may think, “My floors are scratch-proof! Why do I need to protect them?” And while this is true for many floors nowadays, most manufacturers are relying on you using things like felt pads on furniture to keep your floors “scratch-proof”. So here are some things that you can use to protect your floors, and have them live longer. Like I mentioned before, you can use felt pads that stick to the legs of your furniture so that they don’t scratch your floors. It is also important to use a mat under any rolling, or rocking chair. You should always have some sort of mat by the entrance to your house, to wipe your shoes off and keep the moisture contained, and if you can help it, don’t wear shoes in the house. It would be a shame to track in any rocks or gravel and dent or scratch your floors. When it comes to mats, check the manufacturer’s instructions as some products will fade or discolour under rubber mats. If you place a mat in front of any large windows or patio doors, make sure to rotate their positions or take them up when not in use. The sun will most likely cause all of your floor to change slightly, and the portion that is covered will not match the rest.

#3 Letting pets run wild

Pets are little blessings, but pets are also a lot of work. Especially when they make a mess. When possible it is best to clean up pet messes as soon as you can, and cover the floors under food and water bowls if you have particularly messy eaters. This is where it might sound like a no-brainer, but try to keep pets nails trimmed so that when they inevitably scratch and claw at the stairs and other carpeted areas, the carpet doesn’t snag and get wrecked, ESPECIALLY with Berber carpet. If a claw gets stuck on a carpet loop, an entire row of the carpet could get ripped up.

#4 Installing the wrong type of flooring in a seasonal home

It is so easy to just go ahead and install whatever is cheapest or prettiest, but if you know that your home’s temperature is going to rise and fall rapidly, a floating floor may not be your best choice. When Floating floors expand and contract too quickly because of temperature and moisture content, The end joints could come apart. It is important to ease the transition between temperatures if at all possible. Installing a wood product into a seasonal home might also lead to bubbling and separation. Stick with a synthetic product or a glue-down product in seasonal homes.

These things are easy to avoid, but sometimes we don’t even realize that we are doing them. I know that I am guilty of some of these! But ask yourself if any of these things ring true for you in your home. I hope that some of these tips give you an idea of how to make your floors last longer. But, as always, come on into the store and chat with us about how to protect “What’s under your feet!”