This might already be in your daily arsenal of cleaning, but a reminder doesn’t hurt. The fine grit in dust, “Underfoot”, is similar to sandpaper and over the course of time, will wear through your wood floor’s final finish.
Using a vacuum protects the finish and is a fast way to keep your floors free of debris and other micro-dirt. We advise our current and potential customers to not use attachments with rotating brushes or a beater bar which can scratch or damage the floor.
A dust mop or a microfiber sweeper will work wonders on most floors. Combine it with your favorite cleaner to get the best results.
Try not to use hairspray or a furniture polish!
Both of them can cloud or tarnish your floors. Immediately use a cloth; preferably lightly dampened with a cloth. Spray with a non-ammonia window cleaner for a more thorough cleanup.
Invest in protecting your furniture
If you rearrange your furniture around a lot, constant use will cause the legs of your furniture to scratch the wood floor. Try to put furniture pads on the legs of the furniture in your home to keep your wood floors looking as new as possible.
Keep the outdoors, outdoors!
Water can penetrate deep into the wood and stain it. Ensure your windows are closed and properly sealed when a storm is headed your way. Put protective trays under your potted plants and try to remove standing water as soon as possible.
Protect high-traffic areas with rugs or carpets
High foot traffic across an area several times a day eventually wears a wood floor’s finish. Accent rugs are the easiest way to reduce the wear and keep your floors looking great! Vinyl or rubber backing traps humidity, which can ruin your floor’s finish and stain or damage the wood.
Remove residue on your hardwood floors
Having your cleaners or oils near by to clean up small problems before they become big ones will save you money in the long run. Liquids can damage the finish or even worse, stain the floor. It’s imperative to wipe up spills on wood floor quickly, but make sure you’re not over-cleaning these parts of your house.
Know the rules about using waxes and restorers
Never use wax on a surface finish such as shellac, varnish, or polyurethane. It not only makes the floor slippery, it also interferes with later finishes you might apply. If it’s another type of surface finish, get a general-purpose floor restorer; test the restorer on an inconspicuous area to make sure it won’t peel off.
Ideally, people should always remove their shoes when they come inside. This way, dirt, water, salt, and ice, won’t be makes its way onto your floors. While vacuuming and spot cleaning work great, keeping the dirt out in the first place is recommended.