Floor Care Tips

Maintain Your Hardwood Floor Properly

Your new hardwood floors from The Wood Floor Store LLC will serve you for many, many years if you follow a few simple tips to maintain them and care for them.

The way in which you furnish and use the room can affect your floors. Exercising caution when using the room can help your floors preserve their beauty longer.

• Floor protectors and wide load-bearing leg bases/rollers will minimize indentations and scratches from heavy pieces of furniture. The heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be. Do not slide or roll heavy objects across the floor. Use a furniture dolly and protect the hardwood by laying down a sheet of 1/4" plywood or Masonite.
• Use high-quality entry and exit mats to trap dirt, grit, sand and other substances that will harm your floors. Prevent slippage by using an approved vinyl rug underlayment, and avoid rubber- or foam-backed plastic mats that may discolor the wood.
• Avoid sharp objects on your floors, including stiletto-style heels, spiked golf shoes, cleats, dropped objects and long pet nails.
• Maintain a relative humidity level between 45% and 65% throughout the year. Humidity extremes cause expansion and contraction that can damage the wood. During the heating season, use a humidifier to prevent excess shrinkage, especially if you use a wood stove or electric heat. During the humid summer months, an air conditioner or dehumidifier can control the moisture.
• Avoid exposing the floor to water, including spills, flooding, melting snow, etc.
• Periodically re-arrange your rugs and furniture to allow the floor to age evenly. UV light will soften the tone of natural hardwoods, and inconsistent exposure will create areas of different colors.

Visit our showroom or contact us for a free in-home estimate.

Let Us Help You Take Care of Your Flooring

Be careful when you clean your hardwood floors. Many cleaning solutions can cause swelling, warping, delamination and joint-line separation, as well as void your warranty.

• Use a damp cloth to blot spills and spots as soon as they occur. Do not allow liquids to remain on the floor.
• Occasionally clean the entire floor with a damp mop or cloth. Do not wet-mop the floor and do not use soap, oil-soap detergent or any other liquid cleaning material.
• Sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor regularly with your vacuum's hard floor attachment to remove dirt and grit that can cause scratches. Do not use your vacuum's beater bar.
• Use a clean white cloth and acetone or nail polish remover to clean up oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, tar, cigarette marks and other tough spots.
• Remove candle wax, chewing gum,and similar substances by hardening the spot with ice and gently scraping the spot with a plastic scraper (like a credit card). Be careful to avoid scratching the floor and finish up with a damp cloth.

Avoid all of the following:

• Oil-based cleaners, waxes and polishes
  
• Ammoniated or abrasive cleaners
  
• Steel wool and scouring powder
  
• All types of buffing machines

Our experienced team can recommend a variety of quality products that will clean and protect your floors without voiding your warranty.

Maintain Your Floor Tiles Properly

Tile and stone are easy to take care of. With a little care, your new flooring can last for years to come. The tips below will help you protect your tile flooring.

• Please read your warranty and follow the manufacturer's specific instructions
  
• Sweep your floor often to remove dirt and grit that can cause scratches
  
• Damp mop your tile once a week or more often for heavy traffic areas
• Wipe up spills promptly
• Use protective mats near doors and under furniture legs

Many cleansers contain substances that can damage or discolor your tile or the grout between the tiles. Avoid soaps, detergents, and cleaning agents that contain acid, vinegar, chlorine, or ammonia. Our experienced staff can recommend quality cleaning solutions that are pH-compatible with your grout.