If maintained properly, hard wood floors will last for the entire age of your house. They require little maintenance, and can greatly improve the look and value of your home. If you´ve had a hard wood floor for a while, and are happy with its appearance, then all it should need is basic cleaning. Many people don´t think of vacuuming their wood floors, however, a vacuum can greatly improve the life span of your floor. Dust and other small particles collect on your floors over time. When you walk on the floor, you´re grinding the dust in to the floors; thus causing scratching. To avoid this you should either vacuum, or dust the floors regularly. Swifter makes a product that simply requires you to dry mop the floor every so often. The mop heads collect the dust, and then can be properly disposed of.
It´s a common misconception that wood floors are invincible. Spills, dragging, and even high heals all have the potential to damage a floor. High heals will place all the weight of the shoe in two places on the floor, which might cause dents. Moving around furniture is among the most common way to damage a wood floor. Dragging dressers, couches, and other things may cause deep scratches that are hard to repair. Spills are among the worst things for floors. Water and other liquids are a wood floor´s worst nightmare. Chemicals that are most often found in everyday items can damage or even ruin a hard wood floor. Acetone, which is found in nail polish remover might strip the paint off the floor, and leave a permanent stain.

To prevent the most common reasons for a floor being damaged, take certain precautions. Sweep, vacuum, or swifter the floor weekly to avoid dust build ups. Use moving mats when dragging furniture, or even try to lift the furniture in question. Read the floor´s manufacturing guidelines when choosing chemicals. Certain things might ruin the floor´s finish.

If you´ve just bought a floor, or are restoring an old wood floor, there are a few things you should do before jumping right in. Always test the chemical or treatment you´re using first. You should find a small area on the floor that will go unseen, such as a corner. This allows you to see how the wood will react. If the wood appears dull, or lacks shine, use furniture polish. Apply this to a rag, and not directly to the floor, as it might stain the wood. If there is a scratch on the floor, it´s not the end of the world. You can always consult with a wood care professional, or look for scratch filler. Such a product can be found at most hard ware stores, for a relatively low price.