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How to Protect Your Wood Floors from Furniture Damage

Your hardwood floors may go well with your furniture aesthetically. Unfortunately, furniture may sometimes cause scratches or damages to the floors, resulting in a duller surface. Hardwood floor surfaces are considered tricky to deal with in rental apartments or houses. After a year or two, the number of visible scratches can be so significant that you may be charged a certain amount from your security deposit.

All hardwood flooring is susceptible to scratches. Anyone who tells you hardwood won’t scratch isn’t being completely honest with you. You can only try to minimize the extent of the damage, especially when it comes to the furniture. With the proper techniques, you can limit the amount of damage the furniture might leave on your beautiful wood flooring.

Follow these best practices to protect your wood floors from furniture damage:

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Use furniture with wheels

If you have wood flooring in your home, consider using furniture with wheels as an option. Many furniture pieces, like entertainment units or cabinets, may come with wheels attached. These wheels allow you to move the furniture from room to room easily without damaging the floors.

However, the wrong type of wheels will still leave marks. Get non-marking ball wheels or rubber wheels. Clean the wheels regularly as debris or dirt may adhere to them and cause scratches as they roll across the floor. If you’re not in a position to get new furniture, consider attaching wheels to the legs of your current ones.

Use furniture pads

Unfortunately, hardwood floors scratch easily on the slightest movement of furniture pieces. The first tiny scratch may not seem like a cause for concern, but it will escalate into a noticeable problem sooner than you know it. If you don’t have a moving buddy to lift the furniture, use glider pads to cushion the corners. These pads soften the impact when moving furniture across the floors.

You can also use furniture feet covers to raise them off the floor slightly. They are commonly made of rubber, cork and felt. Felt pads allow furniture to be moved around without restriction, eliminating the need for lifting or attaching wheels. If you have chairs on your hardwood floor, stick felt pads to the feet. If they shift a bit as people stand up or sit down, they won’t leave the floor with scratch marks.

You can purchase furniture pads anywhere, from online stores to furniture and specialty stores. To create DIY pads for your furniture’s feet, cut up quilts, clothing or blankets. Whether your furniture pieces are static or are occasionally moved around, use furniture or glider pads to avoid damaging the floor’s integrity.

Use area rugs

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Using an area rug is an efficient way of preventing scratching or gouging your hardwood floors. Area rugs are designed to protect the floor, especially where the floor surface’s integrity can be compromised. By having all your furniture on top of an area rug, you’ll extend the lifespan of your hardwood flooring. Identify the areas where furniture pieces are often moved and place area rugs there.

Some of the most popular zones in apartments include the coffee table and armchairs. In these areas, the surface experiences a lot of dragging, pushing and walking. In addition to protecting your hardwood floors, add style to the space using a colourful rug. Area rugs are available in various colours, sizes and designs, so there is something for everyone.

Before purchasing an area rug, identify the area you want to cover. Measure it beforehand so you can know the right size of carpet to buy. Also, factor in the placement and choose a suitable material. Add a rug pad for even more protection under the area rug. Ensure the pad material is safe for use on hardwood floors, so it doesn’t result in additional scratching or yellowing.

Don’t push or drag furniture

When moving furniture, remember that hardwood floors may suffer extensive damage as a result. Most damage to hardwood floors results from pushing or dragging furniture across the floor during a move or when redecorating. While it may seem faster than finding a helping hand at the moment, it’s not worth scuffing up your polished hardwood floor.

If possible, pick up the furniture pieces from the wooden floor when moving them. You will probably need to get a moving buddy to help out. However, protecting your hardwood floors is worth the extra effort.

Before placing old or new furniture on your hardwood floors, check the furniture feet. If they are worn-out and rough, you will want to give them light sanding using a palm tool or sandpaper sheets. Sand the furniture feet so that they don’t scuff the flooring.

Gail P
I am a beachy type of person, living in Newport Beach, and oftentimes I’ll go for a swim with my daughter. When I’m bored, I’ll help make package boxes for my little girl’s sticker company on Etsy.