1. Skipping sweeping
Sweeping and vacuuming is one of the quick ways to extend the life of your floors. Hence, do not ditch these handy and easy cleaning steps and stick to them on a regular basis.
The finish of wood floors can easily be scratched and dulled by dust, dirt, and other abrasive particles in spite of their micro size.

2. Not using the right vacuum attachments
Anybody who has spent time cleaning wood floors and has tried both methods know that vacuuming takes less energy and time than sweeping. Being such an important chore to maintain the beauty of your interiors, it does not mean any vacuum attachment will do the trick.
Do not use a beater bar or hard head on vacuum as it can gouge wood floors. Choose hardwood-specialized brush attachment instead, which is usually the long, oval floor brush type, so that dust and dirt are kept off your wood floors properly without causing any damage to it.
If you already have an upright model, make sure to turn the rotating brush off to prevent the bristles from scratching the wood floors.

3. Letting spills sit
Any liquid sitting on your wood floors for any length of time is a no-no. Do immediately wipe them off with a soft, clean cloth instead of letting them dry and cake on. Again, if there is a deep cleaning involving a spot of water, make sure to buff dry wood floor thoroughly afterward with a clean towel.

4. Skipping the door mat
After a walk outside, by the time you hit the door, stones, grit, grime, dirt, gravel and other outdoor elements should be off the bottom of your shoes and away from wood floors. Either your property is a residential or commercial setting, it is called a welcome mat or a walk-off rug respectively.
What’s more, think about the moment when the kids coming in after swimming in the pool. They would run inside, stand right in front of the door, and while they’re drying off, puddles of water start to form.
If there are dogs in the house, around their eating/drinking bowls is the area that can be potentially damaged by water. The space in front of the sinks can be susceptible to water as well. Consider buying a rug for these areas.
Besides keeping your floors cleaner, a door mat or rug will also serve as a convenient landing spot for family and guest shoes. The idea is that the cleaner your feet/shoes are before hitting the wood floor, the better. This naturally benefits other flooring options as well.

5. Not using the right cleaner
There are hundreds of different wood floor finishes and each goes with a particular type of cleaner. The following products are NOT highly recommended for wood floors: vinegar or ammonia-based cleaner, powdered all-purpose cleaner, dish washing detergent, and any type of silicone or wax-based cleaners. The abrasives or heavy chemicals in these products can build up on the wood floor, dull the finish, and age it before their time.
Before making any purchase, consult with your wood flooring manufacturer about the type of cleaner that is safe to use. Whatever maintenance technique is planned out to employ, do so in accordance with the chosen cleaner.
Keep in mind to test the cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area before setting on the complete mission. Refrain yourself from pouring the cleaning product directly on the wood floors. The wood will absorb the puddle of cleaning liquid, causing a swelling and uneven look before you know it.