This is a problem that everyone with wood floors face -- some love the scratches (referred to as a “life patina” in some instance) and some abhor them, requiring an almost obsessive no-shoes (or claws) policy. But, inevitably, even the most careful will find scratches in their wood flooring.
Fortunately, there are preventative measures that can be taken to minimize scratching on wood floors. Here are my top three recommendations:
Step 1: Put proper walk-off mats/throw rugs at all exterior entrances. The purpose of these rugs is to scrub any grit from the bottom of your shoes before you walk inside. Particles of sand, dirt and more can be very abrasive when ground into any floor's finish.
Step 2: Vacuum hardwood floors on a regular basis to collect any dry particulate matter before it can be ground against the floor’s finish.
Step 3: Make sure you have proper casters, or felt pads, on the legs of all furniture and appliances that may be moved across the floor. As I always say, floors will treat you in direct correlation to the way that you treat them.
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