Hardwood Flooring Care and Maintenance

Properly finished wood floors are the easiest of all floor surfaces to keep clean and new looking unlike carpeted or resilient floors that show wear regardless of care. Wood floors can be kept looking like new, year after year, with minimum care. Since the overwhelming majority of wood floors are composed of solid hardwood, this care guide applies specifically to this type of flooring.

A good minimum care is to vacuum and/or dust mop weekly. A damp mop can be used for spills, and when necessary general cleanup on floors which have non-waxed polyurethane or a similar surface finish. When high traffic areas begin to show significant wears, screening, scuff sanding the finish surface and re-coating an entire floor is the least involved choice for maintenance. If a floor is waxed, occasional buffing helps renew the shine and remove scuffmarks that may appear in the wax coating. If the shine cannot be renewed in heavily used lanes, occasionally re-waxing these areas may be necessary. Intervals for completely re-waxing a floor may extend to a year or longer when attention has been paid to proper care.

Wood and water don't mix. No matter what finish your wood floor has, never pour water on the floor. While a damp mop may be used on polyurethane and other surface finishes in good condition, excessive amounts of water seep between the boards and into small scratches causing deterioration of finishes. A damp mop should only be damp to the touch. It should be thoroughly wrung and not dripping. Wax-coated finishes should NEVER be cleaned or maintained with water, not even a damp mop. Water can cause a wax finish to be dull or leave water spots.

The recommendations made here are not intended to endorse specific products or brands but to serve as general guidelines in the selection and use of floor maintenance materials. Always follow manufacturer directions for finishes maintenance products, and corresponding products. And always use only products specifically designed for wood floors and the finish applied to your wood floor.

Here are some preventive measure to keep your wood floor looking new.

• Place breathable, dirt-catching mats at all room entrances
  Note: do not use mats with rubber or other non-porous backings
• Use felt pads under furniture legs
• Casters on furniture should be at least 1" wide, in good working condition, and kept clean of debris
• Area rugs should be placed in high traffic areas, at stair landings and in front of sinks
  Note: do not use mats with rubber or other non-porous backings
• When moving furniture, lift it rather than dragging or pushing it
• When moving exceptionally heavy furniture or appliances, make sure the floor is clean then cover it with a firm material, like 1/4" plywood, and use a dolly to move the heavy item.
• Prevent ultraviolet (UV) fading by installing curtains or blinds, or applying window tint to block direct sunlight.
• Do not walk on the floor with spike high heels, athletic cleats, taps, or any shoes with damaged heels
• Keep pet's claws trimmed

Cleaning a hardwood floor begins as it does with other smooth floor surfaces, but after that there are some important differences to be aware of. The following steps are provided as general guidelines and are not intended to be all inclusive. Refer to your flooring manufacturer for specific details and cleaning product recommendations.

Dos:

• Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly and whenever needed
  Note: if a vacuum cleaner is used, it must have a soft brush or felt head, and the wheels should be clean to prevent scratches
• Only use a dry mop, like a Swiffer® or a hardwood floor mop with a swivel head and terry cloth cover
• Use only floor cleaning products recommended by the flooring manufacturer
• Clean up spills and tracked-in dirt immediately with a soft cloth and recommended cleaning product

Don'ts:

• Do not use a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar head
• Do not mop the floor with water
• Do not use oil soap, wax-based products, or household cleaners containing lemon oil, tung oil, or ammonia
  Note: refer to the flooring manufacturer for a complete list of products not to be used