We just had new hardwood floors installed in my house. They are a dark walnut color. however, footprints are just impossible to hide. as soon as i clean them, they look dirty within a few minutes, just from us walking on them. is there anything i can use to protect my floors better and prevent a million tiny footprints on my floor? i am constantly having to clean them! My dark colour builder installed stair case doesn't have this issue. It doesn't take any foot prints at all. Why is that? I am looking for preventing solution not cleaning. Any help?

Was it a glue down? If so, it's possible there's a residue on the floor. This may not be detectable by eye, but can be an issue right after installation, due to installers cleaning methods. Depending on the amount of residue....a simple cleaning with a good cleaner such as Bona will usually take care of the problem.

Some of those matte finishes like Bona's Natural has some texture to it and has been know to cause such an issue.

Are they site finished? Havent' run accross that type of issue with pre-finished.

What are you cleaning with? Sounds like a cleaning residue issue.

Thats a dark floor for ya. Dark floors are very hard to keep clean and they tend to show everything.

I try to warn my customers about that when ever they want a dark floor.