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Don't
Damp Mop - Water and wood floors don't mix! Use only
the manufacturer's recommended cleaning products on your
hardwood floor.
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Vacuum
Regularly - Small stones, mud and gritty dirt tracked
in from outside can play havoc on the wood floors finish.
To help combat this, place long bristle welcome mats
at all outside entrances for people to wipe their feet
on before walking onto the floors. Also, vacuum using
a soft bristle brush attachment.
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Use
the Proper Chair Glides - Narrow wheels, sharp wooden
legs or metal furniture legs can scratch and dent hardwood
floors. Any furniture that rests directly on top of a
hardwood floor should have felt protectors, or furniture
coasters under all it's feet. For extremely heavy
objects such as a piano, use wide, non-staining rubber
cups. Purchasing floor protectors is cheap insurance
for protecting your hardwood floor investment.
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Protect
from Direct Sunlight - your wood floor may change
color or fade due to exposure to direct sunlight. The
sun's UV rays accelerates the oxidation and aging of
wood so periodically rearranging your furniture and closing
the curtains during intense periods of sunlight can help
avoid the problem.
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Don't
Use Oil Soaps - There are many over the counter oil-based
soaps and wax based cleaning products that may damage
or dull the finish of your wood floor. The best suggestion
is to only use the manufacturers recommended cleaning
products on your hardwood flooring.
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Never
Wax a Urethane Wood Finish - If your hardwood floor
has a polyurethane finish never use a paste wax on the
floor's surface. A paste wax may form a sticky film on
your floor and allow tracked in dirt to stick to your
wood finish. Polyurethane finishes will not adhere to
any wax and adding a fresh coat of polyurethane to your
floor will be very difficult.
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Trim
Pet's Claws - Pet's claws may scratch you floors
finish. Regularly trim dog's claws to help reduce scratching
your floor's finish.
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Wipe
Spills Immediately - when accidents happen and some
liquid gets spilled on your hardwood floor, you should
use a slightly damp white cloth, or paper towel to immediately
clean up and dry the affected area. For more difficult
spots, follow the manufacturer's recommended cleaning
procedures.
