Remove the base molding. A floor sander may bang against base molding, so remove it. Usually all it requires is removing the shoe molding – the quarter round that runs along the floor.

Check for squeaks and nail loose floorboards. The best approach is to nail into a floor joist, not just the subfloor, with finishing nails. Set the nails and fill the holes with latex wood putty.

Contain the dust. Close off doorways with plastic sheeting. Stick strips of masking tape around the edges of closet doors. If possible, pull the dust toward a window or door with a box fan. Wear a dust mask when sanding.

Rough-sand with a drum or vibrating sander. If the floor itself is in bad shape, start with a drum sander. If refinishing is all that’s necessary, use a vibrating sander.  When drum sanding,move the sander so that it travels along the length of the boards, with the grain of the wood. Work the drum sander forward and back over 3-foot to 4-foot lengths of floor, overlapping the strokes by at least one-third of the belt.

Sweep and vacuum between sandings. Always sweep and vacuum before starting with the next grit of sandpaper.

Fine sand with a vibrating sander (optional). These sanders level minor unevenness left by drum sanders.

Sand corners and edges with an edge sander. Edge sanders can be difficult to control; practice on a hidden area, such as the inside of a closet, until you get the hang of it.