Hardwood floor maintenance
2008-07-31

                                                                                                                                    Knowledge to help you understand the floor                                                                                                                                     Chapter four-hardwood floor maintenance

Hardwood floor enhances the value of lifetime. When you first glimpse a solid hardwood floor, you sense richness, warmth and natural beauty. How to keep the characteristics of the hardwood floor? IN this section, we will help you to find ways to maintain hardwood floor. There is no mush more difficult to keep clean only to take everyday cleaning techniques.

Protection: (1)Place protector pads on all furniture legs on wood floor. The furniture will damage the floor when they are placed for a long time. (2)Use area rugs or small sections of carpet placed inside doorways and in areas like kitchens where spills are likely to occur. Move your area carpets or throw rugs occasionally to maintain a uniform appearance in the floor's finish. (3)Too strong sunshine will fade floor, making floor cracked. Using sheer drapes, curtains, or blinds can limit sunlight. (4)Dirt, dust and grit can damage your hardwood floor. You should sweep your floors regularly. Invest in a good broom that features exploded tips to trap dust and dirt, not simply spread it around. Dust mops can also be helpful in keeping dirt, dust, and grit under control. While vacuuming is another great way to keep your hardwood floor clean, be conscious of how the vacuum impacts your floors. It’s best to use a canister vacuum with a bare floor attachment or a brush attachment. (5)Your shoes usually bring dust everyday. Check shoes with soles that have deep treads to ensure that any trapped dirt or gravel won't scratch or dent the floor. Make sure there are no exposed nails or metal heel supports on shoes that could scratch or dent the floor. (6)Some softer woods also tend to expand and contract with change in humidity. Try to keep the humidity level as constant as possible throughout the year. A central humidifier can help you do that, as you can set the humidistat to monitor and control the amount of humidity in your home. (7)One surefire way to restore the luster of old wood floors is to apply a floor polish or wax. They penetrate the surface of the floor protecting the wood from within. (8)Wipe up any spills immediately with a soft, dry cloth, starting at the edges of the spill and working your way toward the center.

Attention: (1)If you smoke, don’t ash on the floor. Don’t throw cigarette butts on the floor. If the floor has been scalded but not severe, the burn can be removed by rubbing with steel wool moistened with soap and water. To deal with heel and caster marks, you should rub vigorously with fine steel wool and floor cleaner. (2)Chewing gum and wax deposits may make you vexed. Ice until the deposit is brittle and crumbles off. Pour floor cleaner around the stain so the fluid soaks under and loosens it. (3)When you clean the floor, do not mop sealed-and-waxed floors, not even with a slightly damp mop. Don’t use any dust treatment unless it is approved by your floor's manufacturer. The wrong treatment can make your floor dull and cause problems the next time you refinish. (4)Don’t use throw rugs with rubber or vinyl backing without checking to determine if they will affect your floor's finish. Some materials in the backing can react with certain floor finishes, discoloring or causing the finish to become dull. (5)Place area rugs or mats at doorways and in front of the kitchen sink to help catch dirt, grit and water. Never use rubber or plastic backed as it may damage your wood floor. Solid cotton is highly recommend. Never use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products for hardwood floor cleaning. (6)Children's plastic push toys can scuff the surface of wood floors. It will help to keep this to a minimum. (7)If your floor has a surface finish, make sure you don’t overlap on the adjacent boards or the finish will be uneven. Though the process isn’t terribly challenging, if you are uncomfortable with it, consult a flooring professional for guidance or assistance.

Question: 1. Why my new hardwood floor looks old? Maybe you haven't taken care of them and now they look old. Before you do anything, check the condition of the finish and the wood to see whether they need special cleaning or more involved repair. 2. What condition is my floor in?   Finish condition: Has the finish been worn off or is it just dirty? See if the finish is dull, chipped, scraped or gouged. To test if the finish has worn off, begin in a high-traffic area and pour one to two tablespoons of water onto the floor. If the water soaks in immediately and leaves a darkened spot, the finish is worn and water can damage the wood. If the water soaks in after a few minutes and darkens the wood only slightly, the finish is partially worn. If the water beads on top, the surface is properly sealed. Repeat this test in low- and medium-traffic areas.   Wood condition: If the finish is worn, the wood may have been damaged. Are there stains, burns, cuts, gouges, holes, cracks or warped boards? If the wood is damaged, repair or replacement may be required before you deep clean your floor or apply a maintenance coat. 

                                                        Floor maintenance must follow the scientific method, not your imagination. When you have some question, you may ask your manufacturer or professional.