Dirt is the number one enemy of flooring, whether it's hard concrete or bamboo slats. Do a quick sweep at least two times a day, and make it a habit to shake out the dirt from your shoes before entering the house. Clean up spills as soon as possible-most stains (except some paints) can be rubbed off if treated within five minutes.

Wall-to-wall carpeting works well, but it tends to gather dirt and may be impractical for small or low-traffic rooms.

Area rugs are a practical yet stylish alternative. Place them in high-traffic areas such as living rooms and doorways. Make sure they can withstand heavy abuse-the best options are wool area rugs, seagrass area rugs, and synthetic or contemporary area rugs.

Most floors today are protected with a clear protective coat. Different coats work for different flooring materials. Hardwood floors require heavy-duty polymer coatings, and marble floors usually call for premium penetrating sealers. Using the wrong material can cause permanent damage to your flooring. Your flooring supplier can help you find the right sealing and may even apply it upon installation.

A good floor coating can weather several years, but they won't last forever.  When you see a chip, don't wait for the rest of the coating to come off-damage starts as soon as the floor material is exposed. Have some home sealant on hand so that you can patch up problem areas on your own. When the general area starts thinning out, call your dealer to schedule a resealing.

Some floor materials are easily damaged by water. Some of the most susceptible are hardwood, bamboo, and cork. Keep such materials well away from any heavy water source, such as the kitchen or bathroom. If replacing is too costly, just protect them with area rugs-most modern area rugs will hold up well to moisture. When cleaning wood floors, make sure to air-dry them afterwards so that they don't absorb too much water.

In a large room, you can easily tell where the furniture is from the skid marks on the floor. Most of these marks are made whenever your furniture moves an inch or two as you slump in. Rearranging your furniture from time to time will minimize the effect of these movements. It will also "even out" the wear, so that skid marks are less noticeable at first glance.

No part of your home gets nearly as much abuse as your flooring. The floor takes in all the physical stresses of daily life, from dirt and mud from the garden to spilled soup and overturned furniture. No wonder it's often the first part of the house to need replacement-and ironically, it's also one of the most expensive to replace.

But there are ways to increase the life of your floor and save yourself a small fortune. Here are some pocket-friendly tricks you can try to keep your flooring in top form.