Protecting your Hardwood floor’s natural beauty by following a few simple maintenance steps will help protect your investment and keep your Hardwood flooring looking like new.
For cleaning Hardwood Floors:
- For spills and spots, use a damp cloth to blot them as soon as they happen. On tougher spots, use acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth, then wipe with a damp cloth. This works for spots such as paint, oil, lipstick, ink, markers, cigarette marks or tar. Never allow any liquids to stand on your floor.
- For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then, using a plastic scraper such as a credit card, gently scrape off the substance. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Then, wipe clean with a damp cloth.
- Dust, sweep or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent any buildup of dirt or gritty substances that can scratch or dull the finish of the floor.
- Take a damp cloth or mop and occasionally wipe the floor.
- Occasionally clean the floor with a cleaner specifically made for hardwood flooring.
Things to avoid when cleaning:
- NO washing or wet-mopping the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent, or any other liquid cleaning material. This could cause swelling, warping, delamination, and joint-line separation, and void the warranty.
- NO oil based, polish, wax, or strong ammoniated or abrasive cleaners.
- NO buffing machines of any type.
- NO steel wool or scouring powder.
Other important care instructions:
- Acclimation is a MUST. All solid hardwood products need to be acclimated to the new environment for a minimum of 24 hours before installation. Product will be separated into smaller lots and stored in the designated rooms if needed.
- Protective mats. Place mats outside of all entrances and exits, and make sure to clean them on a regular basis. They will absorb soil and moisture and trap excessive dirt, sand, grit, oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that would otherwise be tracked inside. Do not use plastic mats with foam or rubber backing, as they can discolor the flooring. Use an approved vinyl rug underlayment if you want to prevent slippage.
- Floor protectors on furniture. Use floor protectors and wide-load-bearing leg bases or rollers to minimize any possible scratches or dents from heavy objects. Remember that the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be.
- Avoid any sharp items. Hardwood floors are one of the most wear resistant floors on the market, however, sharp or pointed objects can still cause damage.
- Rearranging furniture and area rugs. It is a good idea to occasionally rearrange your furniture and rugs to allow the flooring to age evenly. Remember, UV sunlight will soften the tone of different types of hardwood to varying degrees.
Maintain a relative humidity level. A normal indoor relative humidity level is between 45 and 65% and needs to be maintained throughout the year to minimize the natural expansion and contraction of wood.
- Heating Season (Dry): We recommend a humidifier to prevent excess shrinkage due to low humidity levels. Electric heat and wood stoves tend to create very dry conditions.
- Non-Heating Season (Wet): We recommend an air conditioner, dehumidifier or periodically turning on your heating system to maintain humidity during the warm, summer months. During inclement weather, make sure to avoid over exposure to water.
Protect the floor when moving. Don’t ever try to slide or roll heavy objects across the floor. Always use a dolly when you need to move heavy furniture or appliances. Just make sure that you first put down a sheet of quarter-inch plywood or Masonite to protect the floor.
Be careful of your feet and your pet’s feet.
- Avoid wearing stiletto-style heels, cleats, or spiked golf shoes on your flooring. They may cause scratches and indentations.
- Also a good idea is to keep your pet’s nails trimmed to prevent them scratching your flooring.