Check the condition of the underlying wood and the finish that protects it. Are there signs of neglect to erase, or do you see a well-tended surface that needs just a light clean and polish to maintain it?

If the answer is no, then consider refinishing you floor.

Keeping your newly installed hardwood floor clean is not as easy as you might have heard some “pros” say. First of all, if you want to be professional about it, you’ll have bought some chemical cleaning solutions, which are pretty expensive and probably caused quite a hole in your pocket.

Using vinegar is a much cheaper alternative to clean hardwood floors is indeed possible and it can be quite effective too. In the short run, it’s probably the most efficient of options, because it’s cheap and it works. But in the long run, when you clean hardwood floors with vinegar, you slowly damage the floor’s finish, and just like all these floors refinishing becomes essential to the continued use of that flooring.

Do vacuum your floor frequently as sweeping cannot always clean up your floor thoroughly. For example, in the gaps between planks, the dust and dirt that has gathered up can only be picked up by a vacuum, not a brush.

Don’t leave water or any other water-based solution to dry up on the floor. This will cause it to expand and degrade over time.

I have heard a lot of people comment that hardwood floors are the best. This may be true, that is, for most residences. This is due to their durability, which has been tested by time. There are a lot of homes which are inlaid with hardwood flooring for a long time already. However, they have been able to maintain the fabulous look of the floor. Even if you need to have it refinished once in a while, hardwood will always be leading the competition between flooring products.

There is nothing like the look of a freshly installed hardwood floor, and while wood floors can last forever, you'll still need to refinish them from time to time. Most floors can be refinished every 3-4 years, pet owners and those with high traffic floors may want to consider taking on the project on a more frequent basis. Fortunately, its just a matter of sanding and applying a finishing product to bring your floors back to life.

Hardwood floors can be a beautiful asset to your home. They lend a sense of elegance to any room. Just like anything else, however, your hardwood floors require maintenance, and there will come a time when you should consider refinishing hardwood floors. Luckily, hardwood floor refinishing is not impossibly difficult. With a bit of effort and patience, your floors will be good as new again.

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