Sweep or vacuum regularly so abrasive dirt won’t scratch the finish.

Wipe up any spilled liquid immediately from your floor.

Watch out for high heels—they are hardwood flooring’s worst enemy after sand and water—and some kinds of sports footwear, particularly if they’re worn or damaged.

Put mats outside and inside entrances. This will prevent the build-up of sand and dirt on the floor.

Put mats in front of the kitchen sink, the dishwasher, and all kitchen work stations to protect your floor from dropped utensils and spills of water, detergent, and food.

Avoid mats with rubber or other dense backing that prevents airflow and traps abrasive dirt and moisture.

Attach felt pads to the feet of all furniture to make it easier to move and prevent scratches. Keep the pads clean and replace if damaged.

Replace plastic casters with wide rubber or soft polyurethane casters.

Protect the floor when moving furniture. Use a mat turned upside down with a slightly smaller piece of plywood on top of it. Place furniture on top and slide it.

Maintain humidity levels around 45%, for your own health as well as for the protection of your floor and wooden furniture.

Use a hygrometer (relative humidity indicator) to check moisture content in the air to ensure that relative humidity is within the recommended range.

Avoid exposing your floor to sunlight and intense artificial light, which can cause wood to change color. This is a completely normal and natural phenomenon. The lighter the wood, the more pronounced the change will be.

Move your carpets and furniture occasionally and use a minimum number of light sources to keep color changes uniform.