 Your Guide
To Residential Floor Maintenance
Hardwood floors have been experiencing
a resurgence of popularity in recent years. Once thought to be difficult
to care for, hardwood floors are now seen as easy to maintain. They are
a beautiful alternative to tile, vinyl and even carpet. This is largely
a result of improvements in the technology of hardwood floor finishes.
These new finishes make keeping your hardwood floors looking like new an
easy task.
Protect
Your Floor
Using throw rugs both inside and
outside doorways will help prevent grit, dirt and other debris from
being tracked onto your hardwood floors. Dirt and grit are the biggest
enemies when It comes to scratching or scouring the floor finish.
However, do not do this until at least two weeks after the finish as
been applied.
For wood flooring in kitchens, place
an area rug in front of the kitchen sink and stove.
Chairs, and any other furniture that
is moved frequently, should have fabric or cloth floor glides attached
to the bottom of each leg to help prevent scratching and wear. These
will need to be replaced periodically. Do not wax the bottom of chair
legs.
When moving heavy furniture, do not
slide it on wood flooring. It is best to pick up the furniture
completely to protect the
wood flooring.
Avoid walking on your wood floors with
cleats, sports shoes and high heels. A 125-pound woman walking in high
heels has an impact of 2,000 pounds per square inch. An exposed heel
nail can exert up to 8,000 pounds per square inch. This kind of impact
can dent any floor surface.
Use a humidifier throughout the winter
months to minimize gaps or cracks.
Regular
Cleaning
Regular maintenance requires little more than
sweeping with a soft bristle broom, and vacuuming with a soft floor
attachment if your wood floor includes a beveled edge that could collect
debris. Wipe up spills immediately with a slightly dampened towel.
Spills and tracked in dirt can be cleaned by lightly damp mopping the
floor with a household sponge mop. Use clean water for regular mopping.
Do NOT over-wet the mop.
Excessive water could damage the floors.
Urethane finishes require little
maintenance; Do not wax or polish the hardwood floors. Waxes or
polishes will actually make the floor harder to clean and cause problems
for future recoats. Do not use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products
on wood floors. Do not use a steam mop on your wood floors.
In addition, do not use:
Murphy’s Oil Soap, Swifters, Endust, Pledge, paste or liquid Waxes
Mop-n-glow, Orange Glo, Rejuvenate, Fantastik, Formula 409, Dishwashing
detergent, or Powdered all-purpose cleaners.
Windex: use only for small spot clean ups.
Classic Floors, Inc. Recommends:
Woodwise Terry
cloth mop kit,
Woodwise Floor Cleaner, E-Z Glide furniture protectors (several
sizes available), All items available only at Classic Floors.
Periodic
Recoating
Following a regular maintenance program will
preserve the life of your hardwood floor for years. However, despite all
of their advantages, finishes will not last forever. Eventually, your
floor may need to be recoated.
A
hardwood floor should be recoated when the original finish is showing
signs of wear but before it has worn down through the finish or to the
bare wood. Bare wood will be stained by dirt and grim and will need to
be resanded. A wood floor professional should be consulted when recoat
questions arise.
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