Hardwood Care & Maintenence

The Do's and Don'ts of Hardwood Care

While hardwood floors are brilliant performers, they aren’t indestructible. You can help maintain their strength and lasting beauty by following these general guidelines, and helpful Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind when treating your hardwood Floors.

Do's

• Do vacuum and sweep your floor frequently, especially in high-traffic areas.
• Do keep pets’ nails trimmed and their paws free of dirt, gravel, grease, oil, and stains
• Do use protective window coverings to block fade-causing UV rays and excessive heat from direct sunlight, and rearrange rugs and furniture periodically to help your floor age evenly.
• Do remove shoes with spiked or damaged heels before walking on floor.
• Do use a humidifier during heating seasons to help reduce wood shrinkage and maintain proper relative humidity (between 35% – 55%).

Don'ts

• Do not wet-mop, damp-mop, or clean your floor with water or other liquids.
• Do not use hardwood floor-cleaning or buffing machines or steam cleaners.
• Do not use oil soaps, liquid or paste wax or other household products containing oil (such as citrus, lemon or tung oil), silicon or ammonia to clean floor.
• Do not use harsh cleaning aids such as steel wool pads, any scouring pads containing metal or scouring powders.
• Do not use 2-in-1 cleaners with polish that may contain acrylics or urethane polish to restore gloss.

A Clean Routine

Vacuum or sweep with a soft-bristle broom regularly, especially before using floor cleaners, to prevent gritty dirt and particle buildup that can scratch the wood’s surface. Don’t use vacuums with a beater bar or power rotary brush head. Wipe up spills and spots immediately with aFloorCare Essentials Hardwood & Laminate Flooring Cleaner applied directly to a clean white cloth. Use ice to harden tough substances such as candle wax or chewing gum and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe area clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth.

Floor Mats Protect Your Floors

High-qualityfloor mats at entrances and exits are key to reducing tile wear. They collect and trap all the corrosive substances that can be tracked in from outdoors, including dirt, sand, grit, oil, asphalt, or even driveway sealer. Also use mats in areas of constant pressure, such as in front of vanities, kitchen sinks and stoves.

Protective Pads On Furniture — A Good Idea

Attach felt or similar protective pads to all furniture legs, particularly heavy pieces. When you’re moving furniture, appliances or other heavy objects, use a dolly; never slide or roll anything across the floor. If furniture has hard plastic or metal casters/wheels, use protective mats underneath or replace them with soft rubber casters.