*An Ounce of Prevention*

A few preventive measures can preserve a beautiful finish and keep maintenance to a minimum.

"Do's and Don'ts" for Solid Wood, Pre-finished Wood and Laminated Floors

Do's

* Sweep, vacuum or dust mop at least weekly. Dirt, grit and sand act like sandpaper to scratch, dent and dull hardwood floors. When sweeping use a fine bristle broom. When using a vacuum use a brush attachment. Do not use a vacuum with beater bars because this can cause dents in your floor's finish. Canister vacuums with special bare floor attachments are the surest way to get rid of all the dirt and dust.

* Damp mop weekly with white vinegar and warm water. When damp mopping a wood floor finished with polyurethane, wet the mop and wring so it is about half-dry. Mop and then dip the mop into clean water, wring it as dry as you can and mop again. Immediately towel dry the floor and mop in sections to prevent standing water. Note: You can also damp mop the floors once per month with very diluted citrus cleaner-it gives a nice smell and bugs hate it. Fill a small bucket with warm water, a 1/4 cup of white vinegar per quart of water and add a tablespoon of citrus cleaner. (Citra-solv works very well. )

* Wipe up food and other spills immediately with a slightly dampened towel.

* Use place mats and throw rugs at doorway exteriors and interiors, as well as in front of the kitchen sink to help prevent the tracking of grit, dirt, sand and standing drops of water.

* Place runners and area rugs (with slip-resistant backings) along high-traffic areas.

*When moving heavy furniture, completely pick up the furniture and carry to another room or move it by sliding it on a piece of thick carpet placed face-down to best protect the wood flooring.

* Put plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching.
* Keep the relative humidity in your home between 45% and 55%. Use a humidifier throughout the winter months to keep all wood movement and shrinkage to a minimum.

* Protect your floors from direct sunlight over long periods of time. Sunlight can cause discoloration over time. Close curtains and blinds or add sheer drapes to protect your floors from intense UV rays.

Don'ts

* Never use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors. Self-polishing acrylic waxes cause wood to become slippery and appear dull quickly. The only remedy in this situation is to sand and refinish the floor. Don’t use any of the following products (or similar in nature ) on your floors: ammonia, Fantastik, Formula 409, dishwashing detergent, powdered all-purpose cleaner, Endust, Pledge, Mop ‘n Glo, Murhpy’s Oil Soap or other polishes.

* Never wet-mop a wood floor or allow water to stand on your floors for any length of time. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood and leave a discoloring residue.

* Remember that cleats, sports shoes and high heels can dent any floor surface. When a 125 pound woman takes a step in high heels she exerts 2,000 psi (pounds per square inch). An exposed heel nail can exert up to 8,000 psi.







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