Preventative maintenance is a term more common to industrial floor care than to residential or office floor care, but its importance cannot be over-emphasized. Good preventative maintenance lengthens the intervals between the major renovation operations such as re-coating, re-waxing and refinishing. Wood floors are a long-term investment that, correctly maintained, will last the lifetime of the home. Taking care of wood floors requires little effort. The routine maintenance involves protecting the finish from scratches and moisture.
Here are some basic rules that apply to all types of floor finishes.
Keep grit off the floor. Use dirt-trapping, walk-off mats at all exterior doors to help prevent dirt, grit and sand from getting inside the building/home. Throw-rugs or small sections of carpet just inside the entrances are also recommended. Dirt and grit is any flooring’s worst enemy, and that includes carpets and vinyls as well as hardwoods. Keep door mats clean.
In kitchens, use area rugs as high spill locations and at work stations-stove, sink & refrigerator. Cotton is generally the easily fabric since it is easily washed. Mats with a smooth backing, i.e. rubber or vinyl, may trap water beneath.
Finishes and certain chemicals in wood oxidize and are affected by ultra violet light sources. This may cause the wood and finish to change color and develop a patina or aged appearance. To avoid uneven appearance, move area rugs occasionally and drape or shade large windows.
Put fabric glides on the legs of our furniture; they allow furniture to be moved easily without scuffing the floor. Clean the glides regularly. Grit can become embedded in glides; clean the glides over to prevent scratching. Some furniture may require barrel type roller casters as ball type casters may cause damage. Grey, non-marking rubber casters are the best. Avoid casters made of hard materials like metals or hard plastics.
Vacuum regularly, as often as you vacuum carpets: a brush attachment works beautifully. Sweep or use a dust mop daily or as needed, but do not use a household dust treatment as this may cause your floor to become slick, dull the finish, or interfere with re-coating.
Wipe up food and other spills promptly with a dry cloth or paper towel. Use a slightly moistened cloth for sticky spills if necessary. Then wipe the floor dry with another cloth or paper towel.
Keep heels on shoes in good repair, especially high heels. Heels that have their protective cap missing or worn away exposing the steel support rod will dent any floor surface, even concrete.
By observing these simple suggestions you’ll go a long way toward keeping your hardwood floors beautiful and making their care easier.
When moving heavy appliances or furniture, put down a quarter-inch sheet of plywood to protect the floor, and use a dolly.
Depending on the traffic on the floor, most floors will need recoating at some point. Call us when you think the floors need recoating. Using improper cleaners cause future problems with recoating.
DO NOT use “Murphy’s Oil Soap”, “Flax Soap”, “Endust”, “Pledge” or Vinegar on the Bona Mega water base finish. These products and other “floor cleaning products” contain soap or oil-based materials that will leave a film on your floor which will cloud and dull your finish (like soap scum). The vinegar will yellow the water base finish with time. If you use these products on your floor, you cannot “re-coat” your floor.
Humidity levels affect wood floor performance. Proper humidity will help minimize gaps between boards.
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