The National Wood Flooring Association offers the following guidelines that will help preserve a beautiful finish and keep maintenance to a minimum.

Always follow the manufacturers recommendations for the proper care of a wood floor.

• Know the type of finish on the wood floor. Follow the proper maintenance procedures for the particular finish.

Never wax a urethane floor. A majority of floors installed today have urethane finishes.

• Never use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors. Self-polishing acrylic waxes cause wood to become slippery and appear dull quickly. The only remedy in this situation is to sand and refinish the floor.

• Place mats and throw rugs at doorway exteriors and interiors to help prevent tracking of grit, dirt and sand.

• Consult with an installer, the finisher or the manufacturer if there is any doubt of the kind of floor finish.

• Sweep or vacuum floors reqularly.

• Never wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull the finish.

• Wipe up food and other spills immediately with a dry or slightly dampened towel. (wipe dry)

• For wax floor, buff to restore shine. You may want to invest in a buffer.

• Do not over-wax floor. If the floor dulls, try buffing instead. Avoid wax buildup under furniture and other light traffic areas by applying wax in these spots every other waxing session.

• Put plastic or fabric-faced glides under legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching.

• Remember: cleats, sports shoes and hight heels can dent any floor surface.

• When moving heavy furniture, protect wood flooring by slipping a piece of cloth or pile under the legs or covering each leg with a heavy sock or half a milk carton.

• For wood flooring in the kitchen, place an area rug in front of the kitchen sink to catch water.