Hardwood Floor Care & Maintenance {Printable Version}

Your new hardwood flooring will add warmth and beauty to your home for years to come. Following a few simple maintenance steps however, will help protect your investment.

Cleaning

  • Blot up spills and spots immediately (Standing moisture will penetrate into the wood causing irreversible discoloration and damages
  • Vacuum, dust mop, or sweep the floor to minimize abrasive grit and dirt. Note: Do not use vacuum with beater bars.
  • Periodically clean floor with recommended hardwood floor cleaner. (Never use other cleaning products or detergents.)The manufacturer recommends a Terry Cloth style mop. For daily wiping the manufacturer recommends the use of distilled water applied to the mop with a spray bottle. (Tap water contains ingredients that may leave an unsightly film.
  • ALWAYS WIPE DRY IMMEDIATELY until no moisture is visible on the floor. Do not use wax, polish, oil soap, abrasive cleaners, steel wool, scouring powder, or ANY appreciable amount of water
  • Do not use wet mops, wet scrubbers or steam cleaners as these products will cause irreversible discoloration and damages

Protecting Your Investment

  • Your newly installed floors are real wood and therefore are subject to change from excessive moisture, or non-conforming environmental conditions. Remove any standing water immediately, and maintain an indoor relative humidity level of 35-55% throughout the year to minimize the natural expansion and contraction of wood
  • Use quality vinyl-back area rugs and doormats by outdoor entrance areas to prevent dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as but not limited to water, oil, asphalt, and driveway sealer from being tracked onto your floor
  • Use felt floor protectors and wide-bearing cylinder leg bases to minimize indentations. As a rule of thumb, the heavier the item the wider the floor protector should be. The Manufacturer does not recommend the use of wheeled furniture as they will accelerate wear not covered by this warranty.
  • Avoid gouges or cuts in your floor from sharp objects. While your newly installed floor is one of the most wear-resistant floors on the market, it is not impervious to damage.
  • Do not walk on your floor with "stiletto-style" heels; they will cause indentations.
  • Rearrange rugs and furniture periodically so the floor ages evenly. UV sunlight will change the color of different species to varying degree,
  • Keep pets' nails trimmed and filed in order to minimize indentations. Any pets' nails can damage wood floors.
  • Use a wide base air tire dolly when moving heavy appliances or furniture. But first, put down a sheet of quarter-inch clean plywood to protect the floor. Never try to slide or roll objects across the floor without precaution