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Flooring Maintenance

Our flooring maintenance tips can help you keep your home cost efficient, safe & cozy.

Carpet with a burn mark that can be fixed with a carpet patch.

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How to Patch a Carpet

Need to fix your burned, worn, or stained carpet? Read our guide on how to patch a carpet, plus tips on maintaining its appearance.
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How To Clean and Care for Laminate Floors in Your Home

Once installed, laminate must be properly cared for. Here are our tips for cleaning and maintaining your laminate floors.
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The 5 Best Wet Vacs (2024 Review)

Wet shop vacuums are an effective machine for cleaning spilled liquids or washing hardwood floors. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best wet vacs on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you. The products included in this article are available at various retail stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
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The 5 Best Shark Vacuums (2023 Review)

This Old House Reviews Team researched the highest-rated Shark vacuums on Amazon. We review handheld, robotic, stick, and upright vacuums to help you find the best option for your home.
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The 5 Best Carpet Stain Removers (2024 Review)

Food and drink spills are bound to happen on your carpet, so you want to make sure you have a stain remover on hand for when they do. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best carpet stain removers on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
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How to Shampoo Your Carpet

Whether you want to do it yourself or hire a professional cleaning service, giving your carpet a deep clean with shampoo helps keep it in the best possible condition.
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How To Clean Tile Floors

This guide will show you the best tools, cleaners, and methods needed to clean your tile floors, as well as the best ways to protect them.
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How To Remove a Burn Mark From a Hardwood Floor

Did you accidentally burn your hardwood floors? Don't worry—it can likely be repaired. Watch our video to learn how.
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How To Patch a Chipped Wood Floor

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva fixes a chipped wood floor using a Dutchman and hand tools.
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How to Patch a Hardwood Floor

Tom Silva installs a patch in a hardwood floor and fills the gaps with a custom wood putty
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Everything You Need to Know to Repair a Cracked Floor Joist

Do you sagging floors have you worried about your home's structural stability? Believe it or not, you can fix a cracked floor joist yourself.
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Fast Fixes for Floor Scratches

Between footwear, pets, and furniture, wood floors can take a beating. Minimize the signs of wear and tear with these easy repairs.

Cleaning Dos and Don'ts for a Painted Hardwood Floor

In this guide, a flooring expert offers tips for cleaning and maintaining your painted hardwood floor, as well as mistakes to avoid.
A French Bulldog sits on a hardwood floor with sketched outlines of the dog causing wear and tear on the flooring around it.

How to Repair Dog Damage to Wood Flooring

Scratches and stains are the hallmarks of dog ownership. But you can fix the damage done — and minimize the chance of future mishaps.
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How to Protect Wood Floors

Wood floors face daily wear and tear and unexpected spills. This guide helps you protect your wood floors to keep them in good condition.
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How To Refinish Hardwood Floors

Our step-by-step guide can help you clean and refinish your hardwood floors without sanding down to the bare wood.
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Cures for the Creaky House

Those aren't ghosts making a racket in your home—it's just normal wear and tear taking its toll. Check out these remedies for common noises.
A person using a spray bottle to remove carpet stains.

How To Get Stains Out Of A Carpet: Coffee, Dirt & More

Learn how to remove the most common types of carpet stains such as coffee stains with products you already have around your house.
Someone fixing springy floors

How To Fix a Bouncy Floor

Does your home have a bouncy floor? It could be an underlying structural problem. Follow these steps to find and fix the damage.
Damaged vinyl floor that needs to be fixed

Fast Fixes for Vinyl Floors

Repairing your damaged vinyl flooring can be done quickly and easily with the right tools and techniques. Here's how.
An illustration of chemical stripper sitting on a floor by a chair.

How to Protect Floors From Chemical Stripper in Your Home

Here are some handy tips and tricks to keep harmful chemical strippers from damaging your floors during your next refinishing project.
Shiny and clean hardwood floor finish.

Hardwood Floor Refinishing School: A Comprehensive Guide

Our guide walks you through your options for refinishing hardwood floors, including how to screen and sand.

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