Hardwood floors have become a much-desired home amenity, and homeowners with this feature know that it's best to treat them carefully. Regular sweeping helps wrangle any pebbles or other debris that can cause scratches, and protective pads on chair legs and other furniture can also ensure that the floor remains pristine.

Even with this proper care, hardwood floors can benefit from an occasional refinishing to renew the protective coat atop the boards. This process not only makes the floor look better, it can also have a beneficial effect on your home's value. According to the National Association of Realtors' 2019 Remodeling Impact Report, the cost of hardwood floor refinishing is usually completely recouped by a subsequent boost in home value.

Refinishing hardwood floors requires a great deal of preparation, however. Not only will you need to clear out the room so you can access the whole floor, but you'll also need to let the finish stand for a few days afterward. Floor Craft Sanding, an Indianapolis hardwood restoration and installation company, says you may want to set up a refinishing schedule so you won't have too much difficulty accessing your home during the process.

In any room where the floors will be refinished, all furniture should be removed, including area rugs and houseplants. Sousa's Fine Floors, a company in Fiskdale, Mass., says this process should also relocate major appliances such as the washer, dryer, and refrigerator. The pilot lights of gas appliances should be extinguished to minimize fire risk.

This cleanup process should also extend to items on the walls, shelves, and counters. Floor Craft Sanding says this ensures that no items will accidentally be knocked onto the floor while the refinishing it taking place.

Clean up the floor before adding the new finish. A thorough sweeping or vacuuming is helpful, but you'll also want to keep an eye out for any old food stains or other sticky materials. Family Handyman says a putty knife can be used to dislodge any particularly tenacious items, while a scouring pad dampened with mineral spirits can take away many stains.

It also helps to address any scratches that are deep enough to have gone through the finish and mark the board. These scratches can often be minimized by applying wood stain with a cotton swab. You may need to experiment by mixing a couple of different stain colors before you find a hue that matches your flooring.

If you have pets, take steps to keep them out of the area where floors will be refinished. Sousa's Fine Floors says dogs and cats may not only walk on the finish before it has dried, but cleaning the finish off their paws may require solvents that they will find unpleasant. Birds, fish, and other less mobile animals should still be relocated to a well-ventilated area.

It's possible to walk on a refinished floor as soon as one day after the completion of the process. However, you may need to put down multiple coats, and it's preferable to stay off the floor for at least a couple of days.