Wood Floor Maintenance
Cleaning wood floors is easy. Regular maintenance includes sweeping with a soft bristle broom or dusting with a dry microfiber mop. If the floor has beveled edges, vacuum with the beater bar turned off to remove dust from between the floor boards. Clean the floors periodically with a professional wood floor cleaning product recommended by a wood flooring professional.
Recommended Maintenance Schedule
Daily Sweep or dust mop; Weekly Vacuum using the bare floor setting;
Monthly Clean with recommended wood flooring cleaner; Every 3 – 5 Years Maintenance coat; Every Few Decades Sand and refinish; To keep wood floors looking and performing well for generations, follow these guidelines. Individual maintenance schedules will vary depending on use, wear and tear, and lifestyle. There are other steps that can help maintain the beauty of wood floors.
- Do not use vinyl or tile cleaning products on wood floors. Self-polishing acrylic waxes cause wood to become slippery and appear dull quickly.
- Use throw rugs at doorways to help prevent debris from being tracked in and scratching the floor.
- Do not wet-mop or steam mop a wood floor. Water and steam can dull the finish and even damage the wood.
- Wipe up spills immediately with a slightly dampened cloth.
- Do not over-wax a wood floor. If a wax floor dulls, try buffing instead. Avoid wax buildup under furniture and other light traffic areas by applying wax in these spots every other waxing session.
- Put stick-on felt protectors under the legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching. Replace these often as dirt and debris can become imbedded on the pad and act like sand paper on the flooring surface.
- Avoid walking on your wood floors with sports cleats and high heels in disrepair. A 125-pound woman walking in high heels with an exposed heel nail can exert up to 8,000 pounds per square inch. This kind of impact can dent any floor surface.
- When moving heavy furniture, do not slide it on wood flooring. It is best to pick up the furniture to move it and to prevent scratches.
- For wood flooring in the kitchen, place an area rug at the kitchen sink.
- Use a humidifier throughout the winter months to minimize gaps.