How to Care for your Hardwood Floors
Knowing how to clean your hardwood floor is very important for overall permanence and looks. Gravel and dirt is the bane of hardwood floors. Even fine dirt such as indoor plant soil can scratch and mark the floor if not removed promptly. Therefore, sweeping and dusting is a regular once a week (at least) routine, or after any event that leaves dirt and grit behind.
What Not To Do
1. Use regular household dusting and cleaning products. They will cause permanent damage. Use only products specifically designed for hardwood.
2. Use water to mop the floors, this will definitely cause permanent damage. You can use a damp cloth to wipe up spills but never pour water directly on the floor to ‘mop’ the floor.
3. Don’t use ammonia
4. Never use wax on a floor with a urethane or other glossy finish.
5. Don’t drag furniture when moving it - use felt contacts under furniture legs to prevent scratches and gouges. 6. Never ever steam clean your hardwood floor!
Prevent & Protect Hardwood Floors
1. Vacuuming is preferable to sweeping because it allows the dirt and dust to be pulled from between the boards. Use a vacuum with a bare floor attachment, not a vacuum beater bar, which can damage the wood.
2. Use sheers or blinds to protect your floors from the discoloration caused by direct sun rays.
3. Keep high-heeled shoes in good repair and avoid using stiletto heels or just remember to always remove shoes at the front door. Keep a pair of slippers so that you can easily walk from the front door to another room.
4. Keep nails trimmed on pets.
5. Use cotton area rugs and mats in high traffic areas and sites of frequent spills. Move the rugs frequently so that these areas of the floor remain the same color as the exposed floor.
6. Rubber and vinyl mats and rugs trap water under them.
7. Clean up spills immediately with a paper towel or dry cloth. A damp cloth can be used for sticky spills, but dry the spot immediately afterwards.
Recommended Cleaning Supplies
Use Bona’s Hardwood Floor Care Systems! They are designed for effective and easy care of hardwood floors. Protect your investment by cleaning with the waterborne, GREENGUARD certified floor care products that are the #1 choice of professionals and are safe for floors, families, and the environment. Most of their cleaning products can be purchased from larger home improvment stores. www.bonapro.com
Bona Swedish Formula Hardwood Floor Cleaner - Specifically formulated to clean all polyurethane finished wood floors and factory pre-finished wood floors. Quickly wipe out red wine, dried spaghetti sauce, mustard, ketchup, and heel scuffs. Unlike all-purpose cleaners, this cleaner will not dull your floor finish or leave an oily residue. A waterborne, non-toxic, environmentally responsible cleaner.
Bona Microfiber Dusting Pad (4" x 15") - Designed for dry dusting on both the hardwood and stone, tile, and laminate floors. Its "Super Electrostatic Action" attracts and lifts dust, pet hair, microparticles, and common household allergens from your floors' surface. Reusable and machine washable up to 300 times. More economical than disposable dry dusting pads.