Daily Hardwood Care
Preventative care steps that you can complete daily will help preserve the appearance of your hardwood floors. Make sure to help prevent dirt and debris from entering your home by using mats at all entranceways, and having guests and residents remove footwear during rainy or icy weather. Keep all pet nails and claws trim to avoid scratching the wood and brush pets frequently to reduce the amount of dander on the surface. You will want to sweep or dust-mop as frequently as possible to remove abrasive particles from your floors. It also helps to use area rugs throughout the floorplan in order to protect your hardwood planks underneath.
Hardwood Care: DIRT & DEBRIS
Removing dirt and debris from your hardwood floors is the number one way to preserve the appearance and maintain a blemish-free surface. You can sweep with a gentle bristle broom or dust-mop daily, or as frequently as possible. You can also vacuum your hardwood floors, but you will need to disengage all beater bars. Ensure that your hardwood manufacturer has warranted for robot vacuums before investing in one. Dirt, debris, and pet dander can become abrasive to wood if not effectively removed on a regular basis.
Hardwood Care: STAINS & SPILLS
When spills or accidents do land on your hardwood, it’s important to act as promptly as possible to prevent permanent damage to the surface. First, remove any solid material from the floor with paper towels. Now, blot the spill with a clean, dry cloth or paper towels working towards the center from the outside. Use an approved hardwood-specific cleaner to spot-treat the stain, and always use clean cloths when treating a spill. If your hardwood is warranted for wet-mopping or Swiffer WetJet systems, use as little liquid as needed and ensure all liquid dries in a reasonable timeframe.