CENTRAL  CONNECTICUT'S ONLY SERVICE 
DEDICATED TO USING
DUST FREE SANDING & DURABLE, NONTOXIC FINISH MATERIALS
 

CARING FOR YOUR WOOD FLOORS

WHAT TO DO:
Vacuum or sweep your floors regularly. A sponge mop slightly dampened with water can be used. 
Clean  spills immediately.
Place mats at outside entrances. Avoid using mats with rubber backings on your floors.
Use felt floor guards on the feet of all furniture. Check the felt periodically to insure they aren't worn, and that there is no grit imbedded in them. Replace as necessary.  
Use area rugs that can "breathe" - avoid rubber backed rugs.
Clean your floors periodically with a product like BonaKemi Hardwood floor cleaner.
Maintain a constant humidity level to avoid swelling, shrinking, and cracking of the wood. Use a humidifier & dehumidifier.
Keep the nails of your pets clipped.
Keep shoes in good repair. High heels are tough on floors.

When your floors starts to show signs of wear, have them  recoated. Recoating is more convenient, and less expensive than sanding & refinishing. It must be done before the finish is worn through to the wood.

WHAT NOT TO DO:
Never use general purpose household cleaners on your floors.
Never clean your wood floors with vinegar and water.
Do not use products that contain oils, wax, or silicones on polyurethane finished floors.  Oil Soaps should not be used.
Don't wash or wet-mop your floors - avoid excess water.
Don't use rubber backed carpets or area rugs. The rubber may contain chemicals that can damage your floors. Your floors need to breathe.

FACTORY FINISHED WOOD FLOORING:
The recommendations above apply to factory finished floors.
Use the cleaner recommended by the manufacturer, or  BonaKemi hardwood floor cleaner.

Some factory finished floors products are engineered flooring systems. They are made by bonding a thin layer of hardwood on top of layers of other wood - similar to plywood. It is extremely important to have this type of floor recoated when it starts to show wear, as the layer of hardwood may be too thin to be sanded and refinished. The alternate may be to remove and replace the flooring.

 If your floor has a 15 - 25 year wear guarantee, don't be fooled into thinking recoating won't be necessary for that time period. Nearly every manufacturer of factory finished flooring  requires regular recoating to keep their guarantee valid. (You have to do a lot of reading to find it, but it's there.)

WAX & OIL FINISHED FLOORS:
The recommendations above apply to waxed floors, and floors finished with penetrating oils, such as Waterlox..
Although these finishes aren't as durable as modern polyurethane finishes, they can be maintained for many years by reapplying the (wax or oil) finish when the floors start to show wear. A major advantage of these finishes, is that they can be touched-up in high traffic areas, without recoating the entire floor. Waxed floors can also be buffed  between waxings, to restore luster to the floor.