Out there on the internet, there are many guides of what you should do with your wood floor, but we find that there is not too much on what not to do. So, to help fill the gap, we’ve put together this list of things you should not do with your wood floor, in order to get the longest life out of it.

Do not put chemicals on your floor. Wood floors are very sensitive, contrary to popular belief, and by putting chemicals directly on it you can destroy the finish. Things to avoid are ammonia, vinegar, dish detergent, wax, or any silicone based products.

Do not drag furniture across the floor. This one is more of a no-brainer, but we thought that we would include it anyway. When you drag furniture across your finished wood floor, you will scratch it up real bad. Not only will this look aesthetically unpleasing, but it will destroy the finish. Going off of that…

Do not wear high heels on your floor. Just like furniture, walking across your hardwood floor with heels will chip away at the floor, and will literally leave dents in it. Best to just walk across in your bare feet, and then put on the heels when you get into the car.

Do not wait too long between refinish products. This is our last tip on the list. But it is an important one. No matter how well you take care of your wood floor, the finish will diminish over time, and will require a re-coating every so-often. You can skip the entire refinishing process, which can be long and expensive, by just re-coating, which is a one-day process. By re-coating, you can skip a more-expensive sanding and refinishing treatment, which can happen if the finish is grinded down to the bare wood.

Wood floors look amazing in almost any room, but they require regular upkeep to keep them going strong. However, with the right knowledge, you can be sure that your floors are in it for the long-haul.