Having hardwood floors has always been nice. It makes us feel closer to the nature. It makes our house look more elegant and rich. And more importantly, it gives our house a homey feel. Most people think that having this kind of floor is hard to maintain. Fortunately, it's untrue! Simple maintenance is required.

The condition and lifespan of your floor depends on how you take care of it. Few things must be taken into considerations in taking care of your hardwood floors. Different wood finish requires different kind of care. However, there are also some general ways of taking care of your hardwood floors:

* Keep your hardwood floor dry. Never let spills or any kind of fluid sit on your hardwood floor. This can cause warping on your floor. When spills occur, make sure to wipe it off right away with soft cloth. Never use dripping rugs or even damp rugs on your floor. Wet rugs can cause dullness and discoloration on your hardwood floors.

* Keep your hardwood floors away from too much sun exposure. Too much exposure to sunlight can cause damage to any organic material. This can make the color of your floor lose its original color. It is best to use curtains or blinds to keep sunlight from getting through your house.

* You should place fabric or any felt materials under the leg of your furniture to avoid scratching your hardwood floor. Lifting furniture when moving them can also avoid scratches on floor surfaces.

Walking on hardwood floors with your shoes on can also damage your floor. Make sure that your shoes don't have rocks or anything stuck on their soles that can scratch your floor. To keep this from happening, place doormats on your entrance so any abrasive things can be dusted off upon entering your house. High-heeled shoes can also abrade hardwood floors.

Keeping your floor clean, dust and grit free can prolong the life of your hardwood floors. Simple cleaning can do your floor wonders. You can use soft bristled brooms in sweeping your floor. Brooms with fine, exploded ends can effectively trap dusts and grits. These dusts and grits can ruin your floor finish. They can roughen your floor.

Vacuums can be also used to provide a specially made attachment for wooden floors. Never use vacuums with beater bars for it can cause dents on the floor. A vacuum with a brush attachment would be better.

Experts say that damp mopping is the best way to clean your hardwood floors. Water or any kind of cleaning agents will not harm your new hardwood floors unless the finish has already worn off. Make sure that your mop is damp and not wet. Mopping can be done as often as once a week.

Waxing your hardwood floor is also one way of protecting it. It can make your wood floor new again. Buff your floor after applying a wax to make it luster. Wax can protect your old hardwood floor especially if the finish has already worn off and you don't have plans of having it refinish right away. Wax on floor can be easily removed by damp mopping. Just reapply the wax to make your floor looking like new again.

Different floor care products are now available in the market. However, not all are safe to use. Oil-based cleansers can cause permanent damage to your wood floors. Oil particles can build up on the surface of your floor. Water-based cleansers are safer for use on wood floors. To be sure of the kind of care or products to use on your hardwood floors, you must always check with manufacturer.