Nothing speaks elegance quite as much as hardwood floors. They add warmth and sophistication to any home. But what if you have pets? Can you still keep wood floors beautiful if you have a cat or a dog?

The answer is yes. It is true that pets are tough on wood floors, but you can take steps to minimize the damage.

Place a Waterproof Mat under the Water Bowl

While cats are typically tidy water drinkers, dogs are not. They tend to slobber and splash water outside of the bowl. To prevent water damage to your floor, place a waterproof mat under your dog’s water dish. It is surprising how many homeowners neglect to do this and wind up with a floor section that is discolored or cupping (having a wavy appearance).

Quickly mop up any water that spills beyond the mat to keep the water from soaking into the wood. Skilled wood restoration is usually necessary if too much water has spilled and soaked through the wood for too long.

Related Read: SVB Wood Floors is GREENGUARD CERTIFIED. We pride ourselves on using products that are non-toxic, safe for children and pets, and they don’t leave any unpleasant odors behind.

Trim Your Pet’s Nails

This applies to both cats and dogs. While feline nails are small, cats that like to race around the house or play with toys can easily dig their nails into soft wood to gain better traction. A veterinarian or groomer can trim your cat’s nails if you are uncomfortable doing it.

Dogs get excited when their owner comes home. They dance around when they think a walk or car ride might be in their future. And every time they do, there is a good chance that they will leave scratches in the wood floor.

To help prevent this, trim your dog’s toenails on a regular basis and place throw rugs in his or her favorite areas. When scratches do happen, a professional recoating is a great option.

Clean Up Pet Urine as Fast Possible

Few things ruin a wood floor as quickly as pet urine. It seeps into the boards, leaves a very unpleasant odor and causes staining. Once a pet has marked a spot on the floor, then it tends to reuse the same spot again.

Clean up pet urine as soon as you can to prevent smells and discoloration. If the stain is several hours old, treat it with vinegar to slow the damage. If the stain becomes too great, then the wood might need patching to make the area look like new again.

With a few precautions, pets and wood floors can coexist. It is possible to have beautiful floors and your furry friends, too.

Protect the shine and beauty of your hardwood floors from your four-legged friends with the tips above.