Care & Maintenance
Hardwood and Laminate
Sweep regularly to remove dirt and grit that can act like sandpaper on your new
floors. A vacuum can be used so long as it doesn’t have a beater bar or abrasive
wheels.
Use throw rugs (non-rubber backings) outside doorways to help prevent grit, dirt
And other debris from being tracked onto your wood floors. This will help prevent
scratching and dulling of the finish.
Considering that most species of hardwood change in color with exposure to sunlight,
It may be wise to periodically rearrange furniture and rugs to help keep a uniform
appearance. Additionally, be sure to put up window treatments (blinds, curtains etc..)
as stains can dull over the years with too much light exposure.
Do not wet-mop a wood floor. Water can dull the finish, damage the wood and leave
A discoloring residue. Follow manufacturer directions. We recommend using the
Bona system for urethane finishes. Popular oil-soaps and miracle as-seen-on-T.V.
Products are typically some of the worst products you can use.
Wipe up spills immediately with a slightly dampened towel, followed by a dry, clean
one to blot up any excess moisture.
Put felt protectors or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture (especially dining
room table, chairs, or bar stools) to help prevent scuffing and scratching.
Avoid walking on your wood floors with cleats, sport shoes, and high heels as they
can dent and scratch hardwood, especially if they are not in good repair.
When moving heavy furniture, do not slide it on wood flooring. It is best to pick up
the furniture completely to protect the wood flooring.
Whenever possible, keep pets off your hardwood floor. “Accidents” and untrimmed
nails are some of the biggest threats to the lasting beauty of your new floors.
Hardwood floors are VERY sensitive to environmental changes. Try to keep the
temperature and humidity levels constant in your home. This will help keep seasonal
gapping to a minimum.
Note: Even though laminate floors are more scratch, dent, stain, and fade resistant than
Traditional hardwood floors, most of the same maintenance principals apply.
CARPET
Clean any spills immediately. Modern carpets are designed to resist staining better than ever. However, carpet is still stainable. Being diligent to clean up spills/stains immediately will reduce the likelihood of permanent staining. A small amount of warm water should be attempted first. If that is unsuccessful, try a reputable spot cleaner specifically designed for carpets. Your last resort is to contact a cleaning professional. Please be aware that no carpet is stain proof.
Vacuum regularly with a high quality vacuum. Vacuuming every other day will ensure that loose dirt and sand will be removed from the backing and will, as a result, help prolong the life of your carpet. Regular vacuuming may also reduce the amount of allergens contained in the carpet from everyday use. Additionally, when vacuuming, make sure the beater bar lightly brushes the surface of the carpet. Vacuuming with an excessively low beater bar can help accelerate the wearing process.
Avoid tracking dirt, loose soil, or sand onto you carpet. These minerals can stain your carpet and wear down the backing through friction. Taking shoes off before walking on the carpet and/or providing rugs or mats to wipe shoes on will greatly reduce the likelihood of dirt/soil damage or staining.
Whenever possible, avoid having pets on the carpet. Pet “accidents”, loose hair, and oils secreted from their coats, which will attract dirt, can make new carpet look old in a very short time.
Although carpet is the most comfortable floor covering underfoot, walking on it with bare feet on a regular basis can facilitate staining as the oils from our skin can attach to the fibers and attract dirt. Clean house slippers, socks or shoes are highly recommended.
Do not drag furniture on your carpet when attempting to move it. This can cause your carpet to wrinkle and will put undue stress on the backing. Whenever possible, lift and carry the furniture.
If you plan on having your carpets professionally cleaned, do this only when necessary. Cleaning carpet facilitates the breakdown and dissipation of the stain treatments applied to the fiber, making the carpet less stain resistant. Additionally, excessive cleaning can cause carpet to wrinkle as most modern carpet manufacturers utilize water-based latexes in the construction of the carpet backing.
SHEET VINYL/LINOLEUM
Sweep or Vacuum (no beater bar) on a regular basis to remove dust, dirt, and grit. These can scratch your floor and dull the finish.
When sweeping does not remove dirt, lightly mop the floor with warm, clean water
If you use a cleaner, use a non-abrasive cleaner suitable for no-wax vinyl floors such as Armstrong’s Once ‘n Done.
Do not use rugs or mats with rubber backs on them. The rubber reacts with the vinyl, sometimes causing yellow stains where rugs have been for awhile. Instead, use rugs with jute, cotton, or similar, not-rubberized backings.
Use felt protectors under furniture legs to help prevent gouging and permanent indentations. Avoid having furniture with metal or hard plastic casters on your vinyl floors.