Hardwood floor maintenance

Dos

• Use a soft cloth to blot spills and spots as soon as they happen. Always avoid allowing liquids to stand on your hardwood floor.
• Sweep, dust or vacuum the floor regularly. If vacuuming, use a hard floor attachment to avoid scratching or dulling your floor’s finish
• Clean the floor with professional hardwood floor cleaners that are recommended by the manufacturer, specially formulated to wipe away dirt and soil without damaging your floor’s finish. Some specific finish types may require different maintenance. We sell a number of recommended floor cleaners at our showroom at 1 Clifford Drive in Milton.

Don’ts

• Don't use oil-based, wax, polish, vinegar or strong ammoniated products, which can dull your floor’s finish.
• Don't use steel wool, scouring powders or other abrasive cleaners, which can scratch or damage your floor’s finish.
• Don't use a wet-mop or steam cleaner on your floor. This could cause swelling, warping, delamination and joint-line separation, and void the warranty.

Specialty Hardwood Cleaning

• Remove sticky substances, such as candle wax or chewing gum, by applying ice to harden the substance and then gently scraping with a plastic scraper. (Tip: A credit card makes a good substitute.) Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
• Clean tough stains with a professional hardwood floor cleaner.

Protective Hardwood Floor Care

• Use entry mats, which will help collect the dirt, sand, grit and other substances such as oil, asphalt or driveway sealer that can be tracked onto your hardwood flooring. To prevent slipping, use an approved vinyl rug underlayment. (Tip: Don’t use rubber- or foam-backed plastic mats, as they may discolor the flooring.)
• Use floor protectors and wide-load-bearing leg bases or rollers to minimize indentations and scratches from heavy objects. (Tip: As a rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be.)

Preventative Hardwood Floor Care

• Maintain a normal indoor relative humidity level throughout the year to minimize the natural expansion and contraction of wood. Follow these tips for winter and summer months:
• Heating Season (Dry): A humidifier is recommended to prevent excess shrinkage due to low humidity levels. Wood-stove and electric heat tend to create very dry conditions.
• Non-Heating Season (Wet): An air conditioner, dehumidifier or periodically turning on your heating system can maintain humidity during the summer months. Avoid excessive exposure to water during periods of inclement weather.

Use care with sharp objects

• Remove shoes with spiked or damaged heels before walking on your hardwood floor; they can leave scratches or indentations in hardwood.
• Trim pets’ nails regularly.
• Rearrange your rugs and furniture periodically to allow the flooring to age evenly.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, which can soften the tone of different species of hardwood to varying degrees and accelerate the oxidation and aging of wood.
• Protect the floor when moving by using a dolly for heavy furniture or appliances. Never try to slide or roll heavy objects across your hardwood floor.

Screen and Coat

• We recommend that you start looking for signs of wear about three years after floors were sanded or last recoated, except for kitchens and exterior doorways which may have more wear. The screen and recoat (also called buff & coat) procedure for hardwood floors is a cost effective method of fixing or revitalizing worn or dull floors. Instead of paying for a complete refinishing, flooring can be brought back to life, but don't expect deep scratches and dings to be removed. The same holds true for removing paint that may have been splattered over the years. Frequent screen and coat applications can protect, postpone or eliminate the need for a complete refinishing at a later date.

RECOMMENDED CLEANERS: Squeaky Clean, Duraseal Cleaner and Polycare.