Follow these preventative care steps to help reduce the everyday wear and tear that your hardwood will face:
- Place mats at all entrances to prevent tracked-in debris from entering the home.
- Use area rugs in your home but avoid rugs with rubber or vinyl backing as they can cause discoloration or dulling of a hardwood finish.
- Keep pet nails trimmed to prevent scratches and brush pets to reduce pet dander.
When knocked-over glasses or plates of food occur, treat spills on your hardwood as promptly as possible:
- Use a gentle microfiber cloth or mop instead of scrubbing pads.
- Do not use a steam cleaner or professional-grade products, vinegar, bleach, or wax on your wood floors.
- Use a gentle, mild hardwood cleaner specifically made for polyurethane finishes and apply it directly to your mop or cloth.
To prevent wear-and-tear to your hardwood surface, it’s extremely important to remove abrasive particles on a regular basis:
- Sweep, dust-mop, or vacuum daily or weekly to remove dirt particles, dust, small food particles, and pet dander.
- Disengage the beater bar on your vacuum cleaner to avoid damaging the wood surface.
- Check your hardwood warranty before purchasing or using a robot vacuum cleaner.
As a part of your long-term hardwood care plan, consider refinishing or restoring the surface if:
- If your floor has too many visible scratches that go through the stain of the wood.
- If fading over the years creates an undesirable contrast to the unaffected areas of your floor.
- If humidity or extreme temperature changes have created permanent cracking or cupping.
- If a liquid spill, pet accident, or improper cleaning product has created discoloration.
