The best way to prevent stains and marks from spoiling the beautiful, pristine appearance of your wood flooring is to take preventative measures. This may mean paying a little more attention to how you use your home, but it can save a great deal of time, effort and money further down the line.

Precautionary measures

• Don’t wear high heeled shoes in the house and encourage visitors to follow your example – stilettos and other high heels can leave dents in your floor

• Wipe feet thoroughly before entering, to get rid of any abrasive sand or grit that you may have brought in with you

• Clean up any spillages as soon as they happen

• Put felt pads on the feet of your furniture

Of course, even if you take all of these precautionary measures, your floor can still become stained or marked. Accidents happen, especially in homes with boisterous children or pets.

Dealing with stains and marks

• Scratches on laminate flooring – Buy a commercial laminate touch-up kit for some DIY repairs

• Marks on hardwood flooring – The great thing about hardwood flooring is that it can be re-sanded if the top surface is damaged. Hire a professional floor sanding company to do this for you, then just reapply the finish.

• Cleaning stains – Use a professional solution designed for your particular type of wood flooring, but make sure to rinse with a not-too-wet cloth to remove any white residue.