Care and Maintenance

The care and upkeep of your hardwood floors varies depending on the make and style of your flooring. Although they are easy to maintain and upkeep, it may be different from what you have been used to in the past. There are different types of wood-floor cleaning kits for different types of floors. This is a long-term investment to last the lifetime of your home, and will add remarkable value to not only your home, but your quality of life in the home.

As with anything in life, preventative maintenance will extend the lifespan of your new floors and save you money over the years.

Although, regular hardwood upkeep only needs periodic sweeping using a soft bristle broom, every so often, you should clean your hardwood floors using a cleaner designed specifically for hardwood floors.

Here are some general recommendations for the upkeep and care of your new hardwood floors. Always remember to abide by the manufacturer's upkeep instructions if they differ from these listed below:

• Standing water can be damaging, so do not wet mop your hardwood flooring; instead, use cleaners made for hardwoods such as alcohol-based cleaners.
• Clean all spills immediately; a damp cloth is fine, but make sure to dry the area, and do not leave it to dry on its own.
• Use throw rugs in high-traffic areas, doorways and near sinks to help protect your floor from scratches and moisture. 
• Periodically move all throw rugs to release any moisture collected in the rug
• When cleaning or waxing your hardwood floors, please make sure to use only products designed for your type of flooring. If you are uncertain, check with the manufacturer. Some cleaners, including oil based, may damage the floor or remove its luster.
• If you need to get rid of or hide minor scratches, you can use furniture scratch polish, but make sure to match to the floor’s color. Also, make sure before you vacuum the floor prior to using the scratch remover and wax the floor after using.
• If you use a humidifier to help maintain the humidity in your home, this will help to keep the wood floors from warping (too humid) or becoming too brittle (too dry). Ideal humidity level for hardwood floors should be between 40% - 50%.
• Place felt or fabric-faced floor protectors under the legs of your furniture. The heavier the piece of furniture, the wider the protector should be. This helps to prevent scratches and dents in your hardwood flooring.
• Try to keep from wearing sports shoes, cleats and high heels on your hardwood floors.
• Using a soft-bristled floor attachment to vacuum the hardwood floors will pull the dirt and grit from in between the boards. The boards in the wood floor need room to expand with temperature changes, and sweeping alone often leaves particles between the boards.