Key Takeaways

Cleaning hardwood floors too often can strip away their protective finish and cause premature wear.

Skipping a dry sweep before mopping grinds dirt into the surface like sandpaper, dulling the floor’s shine over time.

Dragging furniture, ignoring scratches, and letting spills sit can all weaken the finish and damage the wood.

There’s nothing quite like having gleaming hardwood floors in your home. The warmth and character they add to a space is undoubtedly worth the ongoing maintenance they require to keep them shining.

But there’s one maintenance task plenty of homeowners do that isn’t helping hardwoods—it’s hurting them. We asked experts to reveal the common practice that’s actually ruining your floors , plus a few other maintenance no-nos.

Tyler Mullen , a manag

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