Hardwoods are easy to clean and reduce the dust, mites, mold, pollen and animal dander that can build up in your household environment. There are benefits and drawbacks to both hardwoods and laminate flooring. Across the western world, there are certain practices that can be agreed upon. Both men’s and women’s skins are the first line of defense against harsh weather, strong sun and countless environmental irritants, leaving even the toughest of tough guys susceptible to outbreaks of flaky, red, itchy, even painful skin. If the water immediately disappears into the wood leaving an obvious dark spot, it’s time to refinish the floor. Perhaps that’s why some love it: Cruise staff play a vital role, not only in keeping the vessel running, but also in helping guests make the most of their time at sea. Keeping a cat on a routine is also valuable in that it’ll be easier to anticipate when he’ll be hungry, in the mood to play or wanting to be left alone.

Green spaces play a vital role in promoting wellbeing among older adults. See Treehugger’s Best of Green Cleaning Awards for more expert-backed recommendations. Keep floors dirt-free with a broom or vacuum and only use cleaning products that are safe for wood floors. If you are moving furniture around the room, make sure you use felt gliders or some other fabric to protect the wood. Many of us like to make choices that are good for the environment. No matter how careful you are with your hardwoods, though, you will still have to refinish them at some point. If your floors take a beating, from pets for example, you may have to refinish more often. If you’re wondering how you can tell that your floors need to be refinished, there is a test you can take. There are a few new hybrid products that replace the photographic paper with a very thin slice of real wood veneer.

Unlike laminates, though, wood floors can always be restored to their original beauty. Ultimately, the decision to go with hardwood floors or laminate flooring is best made by examining what’s best for your personal needs. Hardwood floors are generally easy to maintain. It is hard to remove tougher stains off the floors. Let the stain sink in and then remove the excess. Where a hardwood floor can be sanded to remove imperfections, the same is not true with laminate floors. Unlike hardwood floors, carpets tend to accumulate these things no matter how much you vacuum. Charles is ideal for carpets and hardwood floors, and can even cope with any liquid which you spill. If you or anyone in your home suffers from allergies, you might want to consider replacing that old, wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood flooring. You don’t need to refinish right away, but you’ll want to save room on your “to do” list. It usually takes multiple coats to get the look you want. Your floors can warp, shift and lose their luster if you allow them to get wet.

Sunlight can also damage wood, so keep an eye on the parts of the floor that get direct sunlight. If the water slowly soaks into the wood floor creating a moderately darkish spot, the floor is partially worn. You can also extend the life of your wood floors by placing rugs in high-traffic areas. First, find a high-traffic area where the finish is likely to be most worn and pour a tablespoon of water onto the floor. Some floors only need to be refinished every three years, while some high-traffic floors may need more frequent refinishing. If you’ve ever finished a wood floor yourself, then refinishing will seem easy. If you take good care of your hardwood floors, they will last a lifetime and require only periodic refinishing. Hardwood floors can be scratched, but scratches are pretty easy to repair. Laminate flooring companies do make touch-up and chip repair kits as well as offer plank replacement. When you balance a chemical equation, it’s always a good idea to check the final equation to make sure it works out.