Hardwood Flooring Care and Cleaning Tips

 

1. Sweep or vacuum regularly to rid your floor of dust and eliminate abrasives that can scratch the finish.

2. Quickly wipe spills from floor to protect wood from excess liquid.

3. Use mats outside and inside entrances to prevent sand and abrasives build-up on floor. Avoid rubber or other dense mat backings that prevent airflow beneath rugs and retain abrasives and humidity.

4. Use mats near sink, dishwasher and workstations to protect floor from cooking utensils, water spills, detergents, oils and other kitchen mishaps.

5. Stick felt pads under any furniture or chair legs to ease movement and prevent scratches. Keep pads clean at all times and regularly check for signs of wear.

6. Opt for large soft polyurethane or rubber casters rather than narrow rigid plastic ones.

7. Protect your floor when moving heavy furniture. Place on a reversed mat, a smaller piece of plywood. Place furniture on this and slide smoothly over floor.

8. Be careful with pointed objects such as spiked-heeled and sport shoes that may damage the finish of your floor, especially if they are worn or damaged.

9. Keep pet claws trimmed to avoid scratching floors.

10. Although manufacturers' finish delays and reduces most of the sun shading phenomenon that causes wood to darken and look yellow over time in some natural species, your floor needs to be protected from sunlight and intense artificial lighting to reduce discoloration of exposed wood. This phenomenon with wood surfaces is normal and natural. The lighter the color of the wood, the more apparent this color change will be.

11. Do not use wax, oil-based detergents or other household cleaning agents on your floors, since these products may dull or damage finish, leave a greasy film that makes floors slippery, make maintenance more difficult and refinishing impossible without in-depth sanding and complete recoating.

12. Do not raise or lower temperature of sub floor radiant heat system by more than 5°F [2.8°C] per day when turning system on and off.