Steps
What Not To Do
- Use regular household dusting and cleaning products. They will cause permanent damage. Use only products specifically designed for hardwood.
- 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.
- Don?t use ammonia
- Never use wax on a floor with a urethane or other glossy finish.
- Don?t drag furniture when moving it - use felt contacts under furniture legs to prevent scratches and gouges.
Prevent & Protect Hardwood Floors
- 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.
- Use sheers or blinds to protect your floors from the discoloration caused by direct sun rays.
- 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.
- Keep nails trimmed on pets.
- 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.
- Rubber and vinyl mats and rugs trap water under them.
- 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.
Tips
For Small Specific Areas Of Damage
- Burn marks: Lightly sand the area, use a damp cloth to pick up the grit, and then refinish as desired.
- Scratches and gouges: Conceal shallow scratches with matching wood putty or a putty stick. After the area is dry, sand and refinish.
- Water marks: Remove the protective finish; rub the marks with fine grade steel wool. Repeat if necessary, clean, and then refinish.
Repairing Hardwood Floors
- In most cases, when your oil and waxed hardwood floors have suffered surface damage, you have to remove the finish with a wax or oil stripper before repairing the damage. After completing the repair, you then re-wax or re-oil the area. If the damage is large, it may be best to hire a professional unless you truly understand how to repair the floors and reapply the finish.
- Following the proper care and maintenance routines and tips will keep your hardwood floors looking beautiful and enhance any room. In addition hardwood floors help reduce allergies and asthmatic problems.
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