Mr. Sandman's Hardwood Floor Care Tips
- Home
- Floor Care
Star Rated
Hardwood Floor Care
Mr. Sandman's Hardwood Floor Care Tips
Protecting Your Investment in Southern New Hampshire & Northern Massachusetts
You just had your hardwood floors refinished — now what? Taking care of your floors properly in the months and years after refinishing is the key to keeping them looking beautiful for as long as possible. After 40 years of refinishing hardwood floors across Southern NH and Northern MA, Dave Sharpton has seen firsthand what protects floors and what destroys them. Here are his top tips for keeping your hardwood floors in great shape between refinishings.
1. Skip the Murphy's Oil Soap, Wax, and Polish
This is the most important tip we can give you.
Avoid using Murphy’s Oil Soap, wax, floor polish, or any similar products on your finished hardwood floors. These products leave behind a buildup over time that coats the surface of your finish and prevents a simple, cost-effective buff and recoat from being performed down the road.
A buff and recoat is a great way to freshen up your floors without a full refinish — but only if the surface is clean. Using these products essentially takes that option off the table and forces a more expensive full refinish sooner than necessary.
Stick to a hardwood floor cleaner specifically designed for urethane-finished floors, used sparingly.
2. Keep Sand and Grit Off Your Floors
Sand and grit are a hardwood floor’s worst enemy.
Every time someone walks across a floor with sand or grit on it, those tiny particles grind into the finish like sandpaper, wearing it down with every step. Regular sweeping or dry mopping is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to extend the life of your finish.
Place doormats at every entry point to your home and encourage family members and guests to wipe their feet before coming in. A little prevention goes a long way.
3. Be Careful with High Heels
High heels, particularly stilettos, concentrate an enormous amount of weight onto a very small point. That kind of pressure can dent and scratch even a freshly finished hardwood floor.
We recommend removing heels at the door and walking in socks or flat-soled shoes on your hardwood floors. It is a small habit that makes a big difference over time.
4. Use Area Rugs in High Traffic Zones
The areas of your home that see the most foot traffic will show wear first.
Placing area rugs in key spots — in front of the sink, at entry doors, in hallways, and in main walkways — helps protect the finish in the areas that need it most. This simple step can significantly extend the time between refinishings and keep your floors looking newer for longer.
Just make sure any rugs you use have a hardwood-safe backing, as some rubber backings can discolor or damage a urethane finish over time.