Floor Care

Hardwoods - Solid and Engineered:

Properly finished wood is the easiest of all floor surfaces to keep clean and looking like new, year after year, with only minimal care.

How minimal? Vacuum and/or dust mop weekly or more often if merited. Vacuuming is the best way to remove surface dust and dirt before it gets walked into the finish and dulls its luster. Vacuuming also pulls accumulated dust from the grooves of factory finished and plank floors.

Some wood floor care guidelines will depend on the type of floor finish. However, there are a number of preventive maintenance tips that are the first steps in caring for your wood floors, regardless of the finish type.

First and foremost, wood and water don't mix. No matter what finish your wood floor has, never pour water on your floor. While a slightly dampened mop may be used on polyurethane and other surface finishes in good condition, even small amounts of water can cause the deterioration of finishes and warp the underlying wood.

Also, when using any maintenance product, please read the label. Always follow label directions for maintenance products, except for directions which call for using water on wood. Always use only products specifically designed for wood floors. Contact Creative Hardwood Floors for products and specific cleaning recommendations.

The following pages are excerpts from the 2006 NOFMA Wood Floor Care Guide, a guide edited and written by the NOFMA Technical Committee, which is comprised of multiple wood flooring and wood flooring finish professionals.

• Preventive Maintenance Tips
• Care for Traditional Finishes
• Care for Special Surfaces, Refinishing Tips, and Gaps and Squeaks
• Stain Removal Guide

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Laminate:

PROTECT YOUR BEAUTIFUL NEW FLOOR

• Place a natural or colorfast mat at outside entrances to collect tracked-in dirt and absorb excess moisture.
  
• For added indentation resistance, use Armstrong felt floor protectors on chairs and other furniture. As a general rule of thumb, the heavier the item, the wider the floor protector should be.
  
• You may purchase Armstrong floor care products and floor protectors at your local flooring retailer.

ROUTINE CARE

• Vacuum, use a dust mop or wipe with a damp cloth.
  
• For spills, just wipe up with a cloth or sponge.
  
• Do not use soap-based detergents or "mop and shine" products, as these may leave a dull film on your floor.
  
• Do not use abrasive cleaners, steel wool, or scouring powder, which can scratch you floor. And, in very sandy areas or at the beach, sweep or vacuum regularly.
  
• Do not wax or polish your floor.
  
• Laminate flooring, like other types of smooth floors, can become slippery when wet. Allow time for floor to dry after washing. Immediately wipe up wet areas from spills, foreign substances, or wet feet. 

SPRING CLEANING

• Use a well-squeezed damp mop with Bruce Dura-Luster No-Wax Floor Cleaner. A light damp mop is all you need!

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