How do you cover up light scratches on hardwood floors?

A wooden floor is actually easier to care for than vinyl. The main thing to remember is that water is not the wood floor's friend. Water, if left in puddles to dry, will eventually raise the grain of the wood and the floor will become a dirt magnet.

Waxing is a good thing for your floor. Vinyl coatings are not especially recommended. Paste wax, while it is labor consuming, is the much better option. The upside is that you do not have to wax but about every six months with paste wax. The natural erosion of the wax will quickly show on walking areas, so this is where a heavier treatment is best. Obviously, the corners of the room will not need more than one coat.

To prepare for paste wax, read the manufacturer's directions and rent a mechanical "buffer" from your local rental agency. The machine will not take very long to operate, and will give a much better shine to your floor than the back breaking hand buffing. Clean your floor with a barely damp mop to let it dry as quickly as possible. Apply the paste wax in a sweeping arc and let it dry to a hazy condition, then use the buffer to get a hard, water resistant, high polish to your wood.

There are a very few liquid waxes on the market that are recommended for wood floors. One of the oldest and best is a product called "Bowling alley wax". It is easy to use and is specifically designed for high traffic use.

Other than the critical use of wax, a simple dry dusting mop will keep your wood floor in Excellent shape for years. A note of caution! DO NOT use furniture polish on your wood floor. While the products in spray cans would seem convenient, they make your floor very slippery and impossible to walk upon. They have to be removed...a very tedious job.

A well applied wax to a wood floor shouldn't have to be stripped but about every three to five years as opposed to a vinyl floor which needs to be stripped every six months. The wood floor gives beauty and ease of maintenance to your home. Enjoy!