Hardwood Cleaning Tips

Every flooring manufacturer has a different set of requirements for the regular care and maintenance of their product. It is extremely important that you visit the manufacturer's website to download their instructions, as your warranty will most likely be contingent upon you following the manufacturer's guidelines when cleaning your floor. 

Following are some general guidelines courtesy of the National Wood Flooring Association which may be of additional use to you: 

With today’s advances in wood flooring stains and finishes, cleaning your wood floors has never been easier. 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. You also should clean your floors periodically with a professional wood floor cleaning product recommended by a wood flooring professional. 

There are other steps you can take to minimize maintenance and maintain the beauty of your floors as well. Here are 10 steps that you can utilize to keep your hardwood looking its best for years to come:

1. Do not use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors. Self-polishing acrylic waxes cause wood to become slippery and appear dull quickly.
2. Use throw rugs both inside and outside doorways to help prevent grit, dirt, and other debris from being tracked onto your wood floors. This will prevent scratching.
3. Do not wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood and leave a discoloring residue.
4. Wipe up spills immediately with a slightly dampened towel.
5. Do not over-wax a wood floor. If the 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.
6. Put soft plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. For wood flooring in the kitchen, place an area rug in front of the kitchen sink.
10. Use a humidifier throughout the winter months to keep wood movement and shrinkage to a minimum.

Unlike most other floor covering options, wood is very forgiving. Most problems can be prevented with proper maintenance, but when problems do occur, renewal and repair usually is possible. For renewing and repairing stains and scratches on any wood floor, always begin at the outer edge of the stain or scratch and work toward the middle.

To renew or repair a wood floor, you first will need to determine which kind of finish is on your floor. Those finishes are listed below:

If the stain or scratch has penetrated the finish only and isn't in the wood, you're dealing with a surface finished floor.

Stains

• Chewing Gum, Crayon, Candle Wax
  Apply a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the stain until it is brittle enough to crumble off. Clean the area with a product made for urethane finishes.
• Cigarette Burns
  Most common burns can be treated with a touch-up kit made for urethane finishes. Rub with sandpaper, stain and refinish. For burns that reach deep into the wood, individual plank or parquet boards may need to be replaced.
• Food, Water, Dark Spots, Dog Spots
  Use a cleaner developed specifically for urethane finishes to remove the spot or stain. More stubborn spots may require additional scrubbing with the cleaner and a wood flooring scrub pad made for urethane floors.
• Oil, Grease Stains
  Rub the area with a cleaner developed for urethane. 

Scratches 

Repair with a touch-up kit made for urethane finishes available from any wood flooring retailer.