Put pads on the feet of your furniture.
These eliminate unnecessary marks and scratches. Check under each piece of furniture. Self adhesive felt pads can be cut to size and are easy to attach. Avoid stiletto heels. They can dent and scratch your floor.
Always protect your floor when moving heavy objects.
Lift them clear of the floor or use a towel or rug with the soft side to the floor and slide them
Do not use too much water when you clean.
Make sure the cloth or mop is well wrung out. Wash the floor with an almost dry sponge mop using a mixture of a ½ cup of methylated spirits to a half a bucket of cold water – Do not wet mop the floor. It is unnecessary and can damage the timber. If there are persistent leaks from sinks or dishwashers, have them repaired straight away.
The boards move slightly with the seasons.
As timber is a natural material, it reacts to the weather, getting slightly larger in wet weather and slightly smaller in dry weather. The small gaps that open in the boards as a result are perfectly normal.
Timber may darken or change tone over time.
If this is a concern to you, use curtains or windows treatment to minimise the effects. Occasionally moving around rugs and mats ensures that the floor tones evenly.