Care & Maintenance of Hardwood Floors

Hardwoods are a lifetime investment, and decisions concerning them should not be taken lightly.Routine maintenance should include protecting the surface finish from moisture and heavy wear which creates scratches. This maintenance requires more than sweeping and vacuuming. Always clean your hardwood floors periodically with a professional wood floor cleaning product recommended by a wood flooring professional and/or the manufacturer of your particular hardwood floor product. Not doing so may void any warranty or guarantee on the product.

Do's & Don'ts

Do: Place Protector pads on ALL furniture legs on hardwood floor

Do: Place walk off mats and area rugs in high traffic areas (make sure they stay dry and are cleaned underneath often)

Do: Perform routine maintenance as recommended by manufacturer, this should include sweeping, vacuuming and/or dust mopping to remove dirt and grit. Keep this as a regularly scheduled event, and stick to it. Always perform this process before and after a major event that involves a high volume of traffic on the floor.

Do: Keep high heel shoes in good repairs , as well as keeping your pets nails trimmed on a regular bases

Do Not: Use WET mops

Do Not: Use ammonia

Do Not: Use dust cleaners

Do Not: Track dirt, clean immediately

Do Not: Use other floor cleaning products

Do Not: Wax a urethane finish- NEVER !

MAINTENANCE for HARDWOOD FLOORS

Preventive maintenance for wood floors today involves protecting the finish from scratches, spills and moisture. Customers who realize that their floors aren't impervious to an onslaught of spills. grit and water will be less likely to call back with complaints in the future. That means explaining proper maintenance. The key points customers should know about maintenance include: Maintenance for all Hardwood Floors

• Follow manufacturer's recommendations if known.
• Install floor protector pads on the bottom of all furniture.
• Place protective rugs or mats at all entrances to the area. These rugs help trap grit and also absorb moisture before either one has a chance to damage the floor. These should be placed after the finish is fully cured.
• High heels should be kept in good repair - if they lose their protective cap, they will dent the surface of any floor.
• The floor should be swept, vacuumed and/or dust-mopped with a recommended hardwood floor
• cleaner regularly to remove dirt and grit, and rugs should be shaken out frequently. (Use only vacuums that have a special hard-surface setting).

ACRYLIC IMPREGNATED FLOORS:

These floors come in two types: those coated with urethane, and those that are not.

• Urethane-coated acrylic impregnated floors require routine sweeping. vacuuming or dust­mopping. as well as damp-mopping with a recommended cleaner.
• Non-urethane-coated acrylic-impregnated floors, typically used for commercial applications, should be swept, vacuumed or dust-mopped. In addition. however, they should routinely be buffed with a low-speed buffing machine and the appropriate cleaner. When the floor becomes dull, some manufacturers recommend that the floor be lightly screened. and a conditioning product and cleaner should be used.

URETHANE FLOORS:

• Most finish manufacturers do not recommend wet mopping.
• Never use a household dust treatment.
• Always use manufacturers' recommended cleaning products. If the manufacturer is not known, use a recommended hardwood floor cleaner available at local retail wood flooring stores.
• Never use wax on top of a non-wax surface finish.
• Wipe up spills immediately with a lightly dampened cloth, then follow up with a recommended cleaning product.
• For stubborn stains. lightly dampen a soft cloth with a manufacturer's recommended cleaner or a hardwood floor cleaner. Apply directly to the stain and repeat as necessary.
• Never use petroleum-based cleaners on waterbased finishes.
• When the floor loses its luster, it's time for a recoat.

WAX FLOORS:

• Never use a water-based cleaner on wax floors.
• Wipe up spills immediately with a dry cloth. This may dull the area. 50 buffing may be required.
• To remove white spots caused by water spills, use a fine steel wool and a small amount of mineral spirits. Rub gently in a circular motion until the spot is gone, then rewax the area and rebuff.
• When the floor loses its luster in heavy traffic areas. buff to a satin shine. When the buffing does not produce a shine. Rewax only the dull areas. Note that too much wax causes the floor to scuff easily. Use walk off mats in entry doorways, as wet feet on a waxed floor can be VERY DANGEROUS ! Also clean spills immediately !

FACTORY-FINISHED FLOORS:

Learn More > Prefinished Hardwood Floors

• It is important to tell customers that they should use the cleaning products recommended by the flooring manufacturer - not doing so can void the floor's warranty.
• Using the correct cleaner on their wood floors is to include the cost of the cleaner into the job with the initial bid, or at least offer it at the time you're finishing the job.
• Customers should be aware of a recoat schedule. They'll be disappointed if they've been lead to believe that their floors will look brand-new forever. Take a proactive stance in this regard. Leave behind a recoating schedule, If the floor performs as you've said it will, the customer will feel confident calling you when it's time for a recoat. Customer should make a note of this on the inside door or shelve of there cleaning product closet/area.