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VACUUMING
Use a brush attachment. Do not use a vacuum with beater bars
because this can cause dents in your floor's finish. Canister
vacuums with special bare floor attachments are the surest
way to get rid of all the dirt and dust.
DUST
MOPPING
Use a dust mop with a 12-to-18-inch cotton head. Check with
the flooring manufacturer if a mop treatment is to be used.
SWEEPING
Brooms with fine, exploded ends trap dust and grit effectively.
WATER
Water and other standing liquids can damage a floor's finish.
Standing water can warp a finished floor. Starting at the
edge and working toward the center, wipe up spills, pet accidents
and other mishaps when they happen.
FURNITURE
Furniture should be moved by lifting, not dragging. Felt contacts
under furniture legs are a good idea to help prevent scratches
in routine use.
SUNLIGHT
Sunlight can cause discoloration over time. Close curtains
and blinds or add sheer drapes to protect a hardwood floor
from intense UV rays.
SHOES
Shoes with exposed nails and heel supports will dent any floor.
WATER
STAINS
For minor stains, rub the spot with No. 1 or 2 steel wool
and re-wax. For more serious water stains, lightly sand with
fine sandpaper, clean with No. 1 or 00 steel wood and mineral
spirits or floor cleaner, then refinish and wax.
INK
STAINS and DARK SPOTS
Use No. 2 steel wool and floor cleaner to clean the spot and
surrounding area. Thoroughly wash the affected area. If the
spot remains, sand with fine sandpaper, re-wax and polish.
Stubborn stains, such as pet stains, may require that you
replace the affected area.
ALCOHOL
SPOTS
Rub the spot with liquid or paste wax.
CIGARETTE
BURNS
If not severe, the burn can be removed by rubbing with steel
wool moistened with soap and water.
HEEL,
SCUFF or CASTER MARKS
Rub vigorously with fine steel wool and floor cleaner. Wipe
dry and polish.
CHEWING
GUM, WAX DEPOSITS
Ice until the deposit is brittle and crumbles off. Pour floor
cleaner around the stain so the fluid soaks under and loosens
it.
PETS
You don't have to choose between your beloved pet and your
beautiful hardwood floors. A few simple steps will keep Fido
and your floors in great shape. First, consider a tough polyurethane
finish to provide the best protection. Clip your pet's nails
regularly, and make sure the finish is well-maintained. For
more serious damage, the floor can always be recoated.
DIRT,
GRIT AND SAND
Dirt, grit and sand act like sandpaper to scratch, dent and,
dull hardwood floors. Place floor mats at entrances to trap
dirt. Sweep, vacuum or dust mop at least weekly.
SEASONS
Prolonged cycles of contracting in dry winters and expanding
in humid summers may cause squeaks in your hardwood floor.
Air
conditioning in summer and humidifying in winter will prevent
extreme cycles. But squeaks are easily repaired.
SQUEAKS
To silence a squeak, try applying liquid wax, powdered soap,
talcum powder or powdered graphite between floor boards that
are rubbing together. If that doesn't do the job, drive two-inch
finishing nails through pilot holes near both edges of the
board, then hide the hole with matching color putty or wax.
COLORED
STAINS
Hardwood floors can be stained many colors including red,
green and blue.
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