Cleaning Hardwood Floors

Your hardwood floor is durable and easily maintained. But there are certain things you’ll want to know to keep them looking their best.

Invest in a good quality broom and/or dust mop and sweep your floor regularly to pick up grains of dirt, dust and other particles. A vacuum cleaner can be helpful in cleaning hardwood floors in the spaces between planks and other hard-to-reach areas, just be sure to turn the beater-bar (i.e. rotating bristles) off.

Never use ammonia cleaners or oil soap to clean hardwood floors, they will dull the finish and performance of your floor. Your ProSand installation team will leave you with a high-quality wood floor cleaner and answer any questions you have about how and how often to use it.

Changes in humidity can cause any hardwood floor to shrink or expand. In order to minimize such movement, it is important to maintain the humidity level in your home between 40-50 percent through the use of appropriate humidity ventilation systems. Generally, if you are comfortable in your home, your floors will be, too.

All liquid and other spills should be wiped up as soon as they occur in order to prevent any possible damage to the flooring. You may consider using area rugs or mats to prevent damage in high-traffic, moisture-prone areas such as the kitchen or bathroom sink, doorways or children’s play areas.

Since wood naturally expands when it is wet, never wet mop or use excessive water to clean your floor. Large amounts of water can cause the wood to swell and may cause your floor to eventually crack or splinter as it contracts and dries.

Abrasive dirt such as sand, street dirt and cat litter can scratch, pit, even crack your hardwood floor. Protect your floor with entrance mats and rugs and provide a convenient place to remove and store shoes and boots. Regular vacuuming and cleaning of these rugs will prevent accumulation of dirt as well.