Caring for your Flooring Hardwood Floor

Take good care of your hardwood floors and they’ll last a lifetime.

You'll shine and so will your hardwood floor when you use the right care to keep it looking like new. Here are some sensible do's and don'ts to follow:

First, do remember that if you've been cleaning your wood floors with vinegar and water, oil soap, furniture polish or window cleaner, you may be ruining your costly investment. While these cleaners may work well on some surfaces, hardwood floors are not one of them.

Excessive wet mopping with water and vinegar can cause wood to expand, possibly permanently damaging the floor in addition to dulling the finish. Other cleaners that have silicone, wax or oil soaps can leave a residue on the finish that will adversely affect the adhesion of a new coat of finish, requiring a complete sanding and finishing of your floors to remove it.

Cleaners that do not leave any residue allow you to periodically "pad and recoat" your floors, which involves having your hardwood floor-finishing professional deep clean and abrade your floor, then add a new coat of finish, which dramatically conserves time and money and keeps your floors looking like new.

One residue-free, proven hardwood floor cleaner formulated specifically for polyurethane-finished hardwood floors is BonaKemi's Swedish Formula® Hardwood Floor Cleaner. This environmentally friendly, non-toxic, pH-neutral cleaner effectively cleans dirt, grease and sticky spills without leaving any dulling residue.

Preventative care of your floors is also extremely important for keeping hardwood floors looking like new. Simple activities such as vacuuming or sweeping floors regularly, promptly removing spills, placing mats at exterior doors in order to trap sand and grit, and using protective pads or caps on "feet" of furniture can all help in keeping your hardwood floors fresh. Also, avoid walking on your floors with high-heeled shoes and keep the nails of pets trimmed.

Yet, maintenance is just one piece of the puzzle in caring for your hardwood floors. When your floors are worn or damaged beyond what periodic recoating can restore, you will need a professional to refinish your floors.

Hardwood floor refinishing has traditionally been a dusty and inconvenient process. However, newer products and services, such as BonaKemi's Environmental Choice System™, include sanding systems that eliminate dust, and Swedish waterborne finishes without the toxic fumes. The BonaKemi system is certified by the GreenGuard Environmental Institute for indoor air quality. To learn more about caring for your floor, visit www.bonakemi.com.

• Water and hardwood floors don't mix! Use only the manufacturer's recommended cleaning products on your hardwood floor.
• Small stones, mud and gritty dirt tracked in from outside can scratch the finish of your wood floor. To help combat this, use long bristle welcome mats placed at all outside entrances for people to wipe their feet on before entering onto the floors. Also, vacuum using a soft bristle brush attachment.
• High heels, narrow wheels, sharp wooden legs or metal furniture legs can scratch and dent hardwood floors. Any furniture that rests directly on top of a hardwood floor should have felt protectors, or furniture coasters under all legs.
• There are many over the counter oil-based soaps and wax based cleaning products that may damage or dull the finish of your wood floor. Only use the manufacturers recommended cleaning products on your hardwood flooring.
• If your hardwood floor has a polyurethane finish never use a paste wax on the floor's surface. A paste wax may form a sticky film on your floor and allow tracked in dirt to stick to your wood finish. Wax will not adhere to a polyurethane finish and may make re-application of polyurethane difficult.
• When accidents occur and liquid is spilled on your hardwood floor, use a slightly damp white cloth, or paper towel to immediately clean up and dry the affected area. For more difficult spots, follow the manufacturer's recommended cleaning procedures.