(PRBuzz.com) December 7, 2012 -- Homeowners with hardwood floors or considering carpeting in Queen Anne's should know that caring for these floors is not difficult, but is good idea said Larry Beers, owner of QueenAnnes.BeersHardwoodFloors.com .

"Most people buy hardwood floors for durability and the elegant look. That can be preserved for many years if people take a few steps to keep the floors up," Mr. Beers said.

The first thing is to find out what the flooring maker recommends for short and long term care. Mr. Beers said different hardwood floors need different treatment for cleaning and preserving. He gave the example of never using a paste wax on a polyurethane finish.

"Routine maintenance means sweeping regularly with a soft broom. While most people know dirt can grind in and mar the floor, hard bristles can also damage the surface," he said. "Hardwood flooring is designed for easy cleaning, so heavy brooms just aren't needed. We've installed hardwood flooring in Chester, Maryland and have seen too many ruined by hard brooms."

Mr. Beers said it may detract from the floor, but use a rug in high traffic areas. Even better is to have people leave their shoes at the door. This goes a long way to keeping abrasive dirt off the floor. In a related matter, put felt pads on the feet of furniture. Use as little water as possible when cleaning the floors. Wipe up any excess or spills as soon as possible. Mr. Beers explained hardwood floors can absorb water. This cause the wood to swell. Over time, the wood may buckle, not to mention what it may do to the finish, he said.

Use cleaners approved for wood surfaces, except for oil soap. "I know oil soap is often recommended for hardwood, but it will leave a buildup that makes refinishing more difficult. From all the hardwood floors in Queenstown, Maryland i have worked on I can tell you its not a good idea" he said. "Gentle soaps are enough, if you even need soap." ABOUT BEERS HARDWOOD FLOORS - Beers Hardwood Floors is a Queen Anne's County based custom wood flooring company founded in 1992 by Larry and Lesly Beers and permanently relocated to Annapolis in 1995. Beers Hardwood Floors does not subcontract any work, but rather extensively trains its wood flooring professionals in order to stay abreast of the latest technology in the industry.