Hardwood floors are beautiful, classic, and surprisingly easy to maintain.
Starting with a professional-grade finish creates a protective barrier against the normal wear and tear your floors will experience. Remember, the beauty of a hardwood floor lies in its uniqueness, not uniformity. Often, a hardwood floor’s beauty is only enhanced by these signs of life. When properly maintained, hardwood floors can last a lifetime. Caring for your floor is as easy as following these simple tips:
Water and other spills
Water and other standing liquids can damage a floor’s finish. Standing water can warp a finished floor. Starting at the edge and working toward the center, wipe up spills, pet accidents and other mishaps when they happen. If your floor gets water damage: Remove water, put fan on floor for 24 hours, then wait 6 to 8 weeks to see if floor will return to its original state. Your floor may need some repair work if it has not returned to normal after the appropriate amount of time has passed.
Dirt and grit
Dirt, grit and sand are your hardwood floor's worst enemies (besides moisture). They act like sandpaper on the finish, causing scratches, dents and dulling. Place breathable throw rugs at entrances to trap dirt and prevent damage. Do not place rugs and mats directly onto hardwood floors for at least 1 week after refinishing. Finish needs to fully cure before rugs can be placed.
Vacuuming
Use a brush attachment, (suction only). Do not use a vacuum with a beater bar as this can cause abrasion and or dents in your floor’s finish. Canister vacuums with special bare floor attachments are the best and fastest way to get rid of all the dirt and dust.
Cleaning
Use a dust mop with a 12 to 18 inch cotton head/microfiber cloth. Brooms with fine, exploded ends trap dust and grit effectively. Do not wet mop your hardwood floor. Standing water can cause splits, cracks, cupping, warping, degradation of the finish, and leave a discoloring residue. Do not use steam clears on hardwood floors. Water in a vapor form will penetrate the wood fibers and cause irreversible damage to the wood flooring and finish.
Furniture
Furniture should be moved by lifting, not dragging or sliding. Use felt protectors under furniture legs to help prevent scratches in routine use. Periodically check these floor protectors for embedded soil and replace as necessary.
Sunlight
Direct sunlight can cause discoloration over time. Close curtains and blinds or add sheer drapes to protect a hardwood floor from intense UV rays. Hardwood flooring covered by rugs is protected from sun exposure and will not have the same discoloration as uncovered areas.
Pets
Keep pet claws trimmed and in good repair.
Shoes
Consider a “no shoes” policy, as shoes will track dirt, grit and moisture onto the floor. Especially avoid walking on wood floors with cleats, sports shoes and high heels. Shoes with exposed nails and heel supports will dent the floor.