How to Keep Your Hardwood Floors Looking Gorgeous

The only time it snowed in South Florida was in January 1977; even then, it was just reported as a trace amount and while winter nights can be cool, the daytime winter temperature in Florida just doesn?t fall much below the 60s.

This particular story about winterizing your home, published in the West Palm Beach Patch, may not be totally relevant to Floridians, but there are some good tips so it?s something you should think about anyway: www.patch.com by Patch staff.

When it comes to hardwood flooring, or any flooring for that matter, the key to keeping it looking gorgeous and lustrous is through proper maintenance.

First, you need to buy the most beautiful hardwood there is. In West Palm Beach, go to the experts at Quantum Floors. They?ll help you make the best choice, whether you?re looking for solid or engineered hardwood flooring.

Cleaning hardwood flooring is a lot easier than many think. Usually, it only needs regular sweeping or damp-mopping, but sometimes it will need a little extra care. If you need to use a soap, always check first with your flooring retailer to be sure it's manufacturer-approved. Here are some additional tips:

? When mopping, always go with the grain; otherwise, you?ll create dull streaks.
? Protect your floors with mats (especially at doorways where it?s so easy to track in dirt from the outside), and use coasters or pads on furniture ?feet? to keep them from scuffing when moved.
? Don?t wet-mop (no excess water!), or steam floors, because they can dull the finish and even warp the wood.
? Solid hardwood flooring expands and contracts in order to adjust to climate changes, but engineered hardwood flooring does not. If you have solid hardwood and the weather gets too cool it will contract, so ask your hardwood flooring specialist about using a humidifier.
? Wipe up spills immediately with a damp cloth.
? Avoid walking on hardwood flooring with high heels. Even a small, 125-pound woman with a high heel can exert enough pressure to create dents and dings.

Quantum Floors in West Palm Beach is the expert when it comes to hardwood flooring. The company carries a large selection of both solid and engineered hardwood, and has showrooms in Ft. Lauderdale, Boynton Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, FL.