7 Habits That Are Damaging Your Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are popular for their durability and timeless look. But while your home’s hardwoods may withstand a lot, they’re not invincible. Certain cleaning solutions, furniture, and care mistakes can leave your floors dented, scuffed, and stripped.

With some simple strategies, you can preserve your wood floors and ensure a flawless finish underfoot. Cleaning and flooring experts outline the common habits and mistakes people make with their wood floors and offer suggestions for better floor care so you can enjoy impeccable floors for years to come. 

Cleaning Floors Often with Vinegar

Vinegar is a popular home cleaning solution because it’s non-toxic and readily available. However, cleaning wood floors frequently with vinegar or a vinegar solution can cause serious damage. 

“Vinegar is too acidic for polyurethane floor finishes (the most common type of floor finish) and it breaks down the finish over time,” says Corinne Segura, founder of My Chemical-Free House. “This will not become apparent the first few times you clean your floors with vinegar, but the damage is occurring over time and could sneak up on you.”

Instead of vinegar floor cleaning solutions, opt for a pH-neutral floor cleaner, diluted dish soap, or an all-purpose cleaner that is intended for wood floors, Segura advises.

Soaking Floors

Soaking hardwood floors is a common mistake that causes problems like warping and swelling. Instead of soaking your mop, dampen it so it’s slightly moist. 

“You might think a wet mop is the best way to clean, but wood and excessive water just don’t mix,” says Jade Piper, operations manager for BetterCleans, a professional cleaning company based in Milwaukee. “Water seeps into the planks, causing swelling, warping, or even mold growth.”

Piper suggests going for a damp microfiber mop—not dripping, just slightly moist so you clean the surface without soaking the wood. If you’re using a spray mop, less is more. A light mist is all you need.

Wearing Shoes in the House

Wearing shoes indoors can damage your wood floors, from the shoes themselves and the things they track into your home. Even if you wear relatively soft shoes, the debris from your shoes can pose problems for wood floors. 

A common mistake is not following a no-shoes policy, says Carly D. Harrington, owner of Floor Coverings International of South Atlanta. “Even a small amount of sand or grit can cause damage to the finish if you drag furniture or other heavy objects across the floor,” she explains. “If a no-shoes policy doesn’t fit your lifestyle, make sure you have rugs at every entrance to capture dirt.”

Not Putting Pads Under Furniture

People often neglect to put pads under heavy furniture, which causes denting and scuff marks on wood floors. Good-quality felt furniture pads will go a long way toward protecting your wood floors—they create a soft barrier, preventing direct contact.

“Every time you shift slightly or sit down, furniture scrapes against the floor, leaving scratches and scuff marks,” Piper explains. “Trust me, spending a couple of bucks on felt pads now can save you hundreds in floor refinishing costs later.”

Using Enzyme Cleaners

A popular way for pet owners to clean up pet accidents and stains is with enzyme cleaners. However, these can damage the finish on your wood floors if they have oil-based finishes. 

“Using enzyme cleaners, the type that are used to clean up pet pee or pet vomit (or human accidents), contain enzymes that break down oil-based wood floor finishes,” Segura says. “These will degrade the finish and damage the wood as well, causing it to discolor. I have done this.”

So if you are not sure what kind of finish is on your wood floors, it’s best to try to locate the cans, ask the previous owner, or have an expert look at them to determine the finish type.

Leaving Heavy Furniture in the Same Spot

Another common mistake is to leave heavy furniture in the same spot for years. Rotating or even slightly moving furniture can help prevent dents in your wood floors.

“I get it—once you’ve found the perfect spot for your couch or dresser, you don’t exactly feel like moving it every few months,” Piper says. But heavy furniture sitting in the same place for years compresses the wood, leaving deep dents that don’t just bounce back!

“I’m not saying you need to rearrange your whole house every week,” she adds. “But at least every few months, shift your furniture even just a few inches to distribute the weight.”

Dragging Furniture

Another common way to damage wood floors is by dragging heavy furniture. This can cause scuffing, scratching, and denting in your floors. Place padding or rugs underneath large furniture and instead of dragging, lift furniture or use furniture sliders. “If you love to rearrange and get large, heavy furniture, invest in furniture sliders,” Piper says.