Caring For A Wood Floor

Water is the number one natural enemy of wood. Since water leakage between boards can cause stains or swelling, it is better that you avoid wet-mopping your wood floor and using water base waxes on your wood floor.

Usually, dry mop or vacuum your wooden flooring weekly once or when you vacuum carpeting. It is a better practice to wax your wood floors once or twice a year.

They finish the wood flooring with a penetrating sealer or a surface finish.

If your wooden flooring is one with a factory-applied finish then the manufacturer specifies whether the wood has been finished with a penetrating sealer or a surface finish. Assume a surface finish was used if you do not know how your floor was finished and treating a penetrating sealer as a surface finish can do no harm to your floor.

Cleaning floors finished with penetrating sealers : Use mineral spirits and steel wool, for occasional cleaning up of spots. Buff the floor lightly after wiping the area with a clean, soft rag.

Clean a small area at a time with a mineral base cleaner, when the floor shows signs of excessive wear, going over the area with rags or number 3 steel wool. After a few hours, buff the floor with a bristle buffing pad after wiping off any excess cleaner with a clean rag.

Now, buff the floor after finishing with a good paste wax one intended for use on hardwood floors.

Cleaning surface-finished floors : Go over the floor with a barely damp sponge mop for periodic

leaning of spots and stains. If any of the stains remain, use a mild cleanser, such as ammonia or white vinegar, to remove them. To remove any residue, rinse the floor with a clean, damp but not wet, sponge mop. You can buff it lightly to restore the floor's luster.

Use a mineral base cleaner in the same way as described for floors finished with penetrating sealers for a more thorough cleaning.

Floor care experts agree you'll get better wear and appearance if you wax the surface once or twice a year though manufacturers of polyurethane finishes claim no waxing is necessary.

Buff the surface to a luster using a buffing machine or clean, soft rags after applying a light coat of paste wax suitable for use on hardwood floors.

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