Why It Happens

• All wood floors, including maple, are susceptible to denting. Dents are formed, for example, from the pressure of high heels, dropping objects on the floor, or moving furniture or appliances with rough edges. Maple is not a soft wood so it's not any more prone to denting than any other hardwood. But it does have a tight grain, which shows dents more readily.
  
  

Steaming

• Steam from an iron or a soldering iron tip is sometimes used to raise small dents in wood flooring. It's not an effective method for a deep dent. The steaming method should only be used on unfinished wood, especially because applying too much steam to the wood could ruin the finish.
  
  

Other Remedies

• Touch up kits for minor repairs are available from some hardwood flooring manufacturers. These kits contain tools such as a buffer, a bottle of the finish, a wax crayon, and an instruction guide on how to cover the dent. Consider board replacement for large repairs. Or cover the dent with a rug, table or another object and address the dent when it's time to completely refinish the floor.
  
  

Prevention

• Never walk on a maple wood floor wearing high heels. Institute a "no shoe" policy to protect the floors from not only dents, but also scratches and dirt or residue buildup. Place furniture protector pads on all furniture legs. When moving furniture or an appliance, do not drag it across the floor, but instead lift the object onto an appliance dolly and roll it across the floor.