Elegance and freshness comes from regular maintenance of your hardwood floors. Maintain their strength and beauty for years, with a little help from you.

ESSENTIAL CARE

• Vacuum or sweep your floor regularly with a soft-bristled attachment or broom, especially in high-traffic areas. This prevents gritty dirt and particle buildup that can scratch the wood’s surface. Don’t use vacuums with a beater bar or power rotary brush head.
• Use protective window coverings to block fade-causing UV rays and excessive heat from direct sunlight. Most wood types will gradually age when not covered, so it’s a good idea to rearrange rugs and furniture periodically to help it age evenly.

TIPS FOR PREVENTING DAMAGE

• Keep pets’ nails trimmed and their paws clean. Pets can track in substances that cause scratching and stains.
• Use a humidifier during heating seasons to help reduce wood shrinkage and humidity between 35% and 55%.
• Wipe up spills and spots immediately with Hardwood Flooring Cleaner applied directly to a clean white cloth.
• Use ice to harden tough substances like wax or chewing gum, and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper or a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the surface and wipe the area clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth.

WHAT TO AVOID

• Avoid walking on your hardwood floors with spiked or damage-heeled shoes.
• Resist wet-mop, damp-mop, or cleaning your hardwood with water or other liquids.
• Don’t use oil soaps, liquid or paste wax, or other household products containing lemon, citrus, or tung oil, or silicon to clean floors.
• Stay away from harsh cleaning aids like steel wool pads, any scouring pads containing metal, or scouring powders.
• Don’t use 2-in-1 cleaners that contain acrylics or urethane polish to restore gloss.