How to Protect Hardwood Floors from Furniture

Hardwood floors look beautiful and can last for years; unfortunately, day to day activity can damage hardwood floors. Protect hardwood floors from scuffs, scratches, and gouges with preventative measures. Outside contaminants tracked inside can hurt the flooring and should be avoided as much as possible through the use of rugs or mats by doors. However, one of the biggest threats to hardwood floors is furniture. The following tips are practical ways to help protect your floor from the furniture in your house.

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How to Protect Hardwood Floors from Furniture

Always Lift Furniture

Moving furniture to re-decorate or clean is a prime opportunity for floor damage. It often seems easier to push or drag furniture around than to lift it up, but doing some can scratch the flooring. Always find someone to help you lift large items to protect your floors from unnecessary damage. Large, heavy items are particularly likely to damage floors if you drag or push them around.

Invest in an Area Rug

Placing rugs under your furniture is a great way to protect your hardwood floors. A rug pad underneath adds another layer of protection. Area rugs are a stylish and functional option.

Use Furniture Pads

Cover the feet on furniture with pads to create a layer of protection between the furniture and hardwood floors. A number of types of pads are available, including tap-on, slip-on, and stick-on.

• Tap-on or nail-on pads attach to furniture legs with a small tack or nail. They work well for heavy items that are not moved often; if the item is frequently moved, sometimes the pad breaks off. This causes problems if not caught right away because the nail could be left behind and can easily scratch flooring.
• Slip-on pads fit over the furniture leg and provide a snug fit.
• Stick-on pads are simple to use and are found at most home improvement stores. Choose the pad size that matches the foot of your furniture, remove the backing, and stick on the pad.

Choose the Right Material for Pads

No matter what type of furniture pad you decide to use, be sure to choose a material that will work well on your floor. Felt and rubber are the best options for hardwood floors; although rubber can leave scuff marks. Felt pads wear down over time, so use a pad made of thick felt, especially for heavy furniture.

Create DIY Pads

Make your own furniture pads by cutting material to the proper size and gluing it in place with a hot glue gun. Any of the following can make great furniture pads:

• Old carpet
• Felt
• Old clothing
• Towels
• Leather
• Cut open tennis balls

Consider Cups for Heavy Furniture

Heavy furniture may require better protection than furniture pads provide. For items that are heavy or have pointed feet, consider using a protective cup or mat. In addition to creating a protective layer for the floor, cups or mats spread the weight out to prevent pointed feet from piercing or scratching the floor.

Check the Furniture

Routinely check the feet on your furniture to make sure the pads are in good condition. Furniture should be level on the floor; if one of the feet is uneven, consider sanding it down to create a level surface before applying a furniture pad. Clean the bottom of the legs to remove any contaminants that have collected to prevent them from being ground into the floor.

Keep Your Floors Clean

Furniture pads will not work properly if your floors are dirty. Keeping hardwood floors clean is a critical step in protecting them for years of use.

This guest post has been provided by Bruce MacDonald of MacDonald Hardwoods, a Denver based hardwood flooring company. For over 3 years, Macwoods has offered a large selection of hardwood flooring and hardwood flooring installation services. Learn more about how to take care of your hardwood floors by visiting their wood flooring blog.