Everyone thinks wood floors are delicate and require special TLC, but nothing could be further from the truth. A polyurethane (not wax)-finished wood floor is a cinch to maintain, if you follow just a few easy guidelines.1. Take your shoes off.I am a firm believer in taking my shoes off as soon as I come in the door, and thankfully, my husband is, too. This simple act goes a long way to eliminating virtually all of the tracked-in dirt that can wreak havoc on a wood floor's finish. Dirt and grit are abrasive and over time these particles leave behind fine scratches that make your floors look dull. This brings us to the next rule of good wood floor care: vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.2. Nothing removes dirt and fine debris from the cracks and crevices of a wood floor like a good vacuum cleaner. The best choice is a canister vacuum with its long, oval floor brush attached. If you only have an upright model, be sure to turn off the rotating brush to keep the bristles from scratching your floors.3.

Attack spills and scuffs promptly.Spills will happen, but let them dry on the floor, and they dull the finish and attract additional dirt. Blot spills immediately with an absorbent cloth. Follow up with a damp paper towel to remove any residue and buff dry. When you see a light scuff, buff it out with your sock; even a clean, fuzzy tennis ball will often erase it. To remove heavier scuffs, apply a little baking soda to a damp cloth and gently rub the mark until it disappears. Rinse with a damp paper towel and buff dry. 4. Don't use too much water.If you follow the first three guidelines, you may never need this rule. But if wet cleaning becomes necessary, the worst thing you can do is let water puddle on the floor. To clean traffic aisles or brighten dull areas, use a product specifically formulated for surface-treated wood floors. Simply spray a small 3-foot by 3-foot area with the cleaner and go over it with the microfiber mop to pick up the dissolved dirt. Work your way around the floor, cleaning one area at a time.

Follow @goodhousemag on Pinterest for more cleaning tips. Carolyn Forte is the director of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Department. 11 Gross Things We All Do at Home — But Won’t Admit This Trick Will Revive Your Cloudy Drinking Glasses 12 Chores Even the Laziest Kids Can Handle 6 Smart Ways to Get Rid of Fruit Flies The Secret to Turning Your Sad Pillows Into Happy Ones 10 Common Things That Are Dirtier Than Your Toilet Seat 10 Photos Only Total Clean Freaks Will Understand One Day as a Housekeeper Changed Everything I Know About Cleaning The Secrets to Keeping Your White T-Shirts WhiteJanitorial Services & Hardwood Floor Care ServiceMaster Professional Building Maintenance offers tips and tricks for maintaining hardwood floors. Too often do hardwood floors suffer wear and tear that decreases their value and increase the amount of money that you spend on maintenance. Below, ServiceMaster Professional Building Maintenance lists several ways home or business owners can use to care for their hardwood floors and avoid costly janitorial services in Lincoln, NE.

No bleach, no Pine Sol. Cleansers can damage your wood floors and make them show wear quickly, not to mention removing the beautiful hardwood shine that we all enjoy. There are plenty of hardwood-ready cleansers on the market, and in a real pinch, you can make a decent hardwood floor cleaner. (Mixing 1 part white vinegar with 1 part olive oil)vacuum cleaner making weird noisesStraw brooms and hard-bristled vacuum cleaners can scratch and abrade the service of your hardwood floor, making them dull and weary. miele vacuum cleaner bags best priceWhen you sweep, use a soft-bristled broom, and if you have to vacuum, use the softest attachment you can find. dust bags for vacuum cleaners indiaThe beater bars on any vacuum cleaner will wreak havoc on your hardwood floors.

Place rugs in high-traffic areas. Over time, foot traffic itself can degrade the appearance of a hardwood floor. Rugs keep the floor underneath looking great, simply just vacuum often or the dirt will eventually work its way through the carpet. Keep your mops damp, not wet. Excess amounts of water will become absorbed into your hardwood floors, causing it to swell and become uneven. All spills on hardwood floors should be wiped immediately, and the floor itself should be damp-mopped every other day. If your floors are oiled, use oil-friendly cleaners. Too many beautiful hardwood floors have been ruined when a well-intentioned janitor or husband grabbed a cleaner intended for unfinished hardwood and used it on finished hardwood. Read labels and don’t make that mistake yourself.How to Clean Hardwood FloorsFind out from cleaning expert, Melissa Maker, how to care for your hardwood floor. Armstrong wants you to enjoy your hardwood floor for many years. To help you maintain that "like new" look, we asked cleaning

expert Melissa Maker, star of the YouTube channel Clean My Space, to give you a few simple cleaning tips for hardwood floors. Follow these tips from Melissa, and you'll keep your hardwood floor in tiptop shape! Sweep, dust mop, or vacuum regularly using the wand attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Clean your hardwood floor occasionally using a mop and Armstrong Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner or Bruce Hardwood & Laminate To revive an older floor, apply one or more coats of Armstrong Restore Hardwood Floor Finish or Bruce Fresh Finish™, or Bruce Fresh Finish™ Low Gloss. More Hardwood Floor Care Tips Place a natural or colorfast mat at outside entrances to reduce the amount of dirt and moisture tracked into your home. Keep animal nails trimmed to prevent scratches. Use Armstrong Floor Protectors on furniture legs to reduce indentations. DON'T wear shoes with spike heels or heel taps on your hardwood floor. Remove shoes at the door to avoid potentially dragging