Living with Natural Hardwood Floors
Solid hardwood floors repay a little care with a lifetime of value. When you first glimpse a solid hardwood floor, you sense richness, warmth and natural beauty. Gradually, you get to know its distinct personality -- visual harmonies, the traces of history in the forest and in your home.
Protect Your Solid Investment
Solid hardwood floors are among the easiest to keep clean. Protect their warmth and character with simple, everyday cleaning techniques. It's important to know how to prevent damage to your solid hardwood floors.
Prevention
Dirt, grit and sand are your hardwood floors worst enemies. They act like sandpaper on the finish, causing scratches, dents and dulling. Place floor mats at entrances to trap dirt and prevent damage. Standing water can warp a poorly finished hardwood floor and can damage the finish. Simply wipe up all spills as they happen. Avoid oil soaps. They can build up and create problems when it's time to put a maintenance coat on the floor. Instead, neutral pH cleaners made specifically for wood floors are recommended.
Furniture Dents and Sun
Lift the furniture to move it --- avoid dragging. Felt contacts under the legs will help prevent scratches. Vacuum with a brush attachment -- don't use vacuums with beater bars. Direct sun can discolor your hardwood floor. Close curtains and blinds or add sheer drapes to protect from the sun's intense UV rays.
Regular Care
Brooms with fine, exploded ends trap dust and grit effectively. Canister vacuums with special bare floor attachments are the surest way to get rid of all the dirt and dust. Use a good dust mop --- one with a 12- to 18- inch cotton head ---- and a special dust mop treatment. Spray the treatment onto the mop head 12 to 24 hours before dust mopping.
