Your floors have a lot to deal with – soft feet, running feet, dirty feet, wet shoes, grubby boots, scraping chairs, heavy furniture, food mishaps and drink spills, just to name a few. They need to be tough and beautiful at the same time. Hardwood floors are both of these things, but getting the best out of them requires the right care and maintenance.
By starting out right and using some clever preventative measures, you can keep your floors protected and minimize the time you’ll need to spend on cleaning and maintaining them. 

Here are a few helpful hints to get you started:

1. Manage the humidity in your home. The ideal humidity level is between 35% and 50%. This will provide a stable environment for your hardwood floors. If humidity levels in your home exceed this for an extended period of time (in the basement or on the level the hardwood is installed) the wood will absorb the moisture and expand, causing the wood to cup or crown. In most cases, this distortion can be reversed once the proper humidity levels are established, but in some cases the distortion is permanent. Proper humidity levels can be maintained through the use of ventilation, de-humidification or HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) operation.
2. Let your floors get used to the temperature. Hardwood flooring must be left to acclimate to the house temperature for a minimum of 48 hours at the recommended humidity level (between 35% and 50%) and at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.
3. Use protection for prevention. Use protective materials (like felt pads) on all furniture and home décor items, and place floor mats both inside and outside the entrances to lessen the amount of dirt being tracked in. High heels or hard shoes may damage the hardwood, so it’s probably best to remove them when walking on the floors. If you have pets, it’s a good idea to keep their claws trimmed to avoid scratching damage to the finish.
4. Avoid too much water. Do not expose the wood to excessive water when cleaning. Use a damp wood floor mop or sponge only. Saturate a sponge or rag mop in water, and wring it out until it’s almost dry and only slightly damp to the touch. Make sure you clean up water puddles and spills immediately. Also, don’t expose the wood to abrasive cleaning products, only use products that are specifically made for cleaning wood floors.
5. Hold off on the wax. Your hardwood floors have been pre-finished with a protective coating, so you don’t need to wax them. 
6. Keep the dust at bay. A quick, regular clean with a broom or dust mop will make a big difference and help to prevent dust, dirt and pet hair from building up, getting caught underfoot and scratching the floor. Try using a microfibre mop or one that has been treated with a dusting agent.

Enjoy your beautiful hardwood floors for years to come.