Most modern day finishes make maintaining hardwood floors really simple. First you need to know what finish is on your floors. If you had your floors installed or refinished then your contractor should tell you what finish is on your floors. If you are unsure as to what finish is on your floors then go ahead and follow the general maintenance guidelines.
- Only use cleaners approved for hardwood floors. We recommend Glitsa Clean.
- Use throw rugs at exterior doorways to help catch dirt.
- Do not wet mop a floor. Standing water can dull a finish and discolor the wood.
- Clean up spills immediately
- If you have a waxed floor, do not over wax.
- Put felt protectors on the bottom of furniture legs to prevent scratching.
- Do not slide heavy furniture around on the floor.
- Do not roll a refrigerator across your floor.
- Do not steam mop a wood floor.
- Do not use cleaning products that leave a residue. These usually have the words “polish” or “refresh” in the name.
- Do not use furniture cleaner on your floors.
- Vinegar is no longer recommended as a cleaner due to the high acidity of it which can cause premature wear of modern day finishes.
To clean your floor first dust mop or use a vacuum with a felt/soft bristle head attachment to remove any loose dirt. Next lightly spray your floor with your hardwood floor cleaner and wipe with a microfiber cloth. That’s it.
Now if you have a film finish such as a polyurethane or “swedish finish” then about every 5-10 years, depending on wear, you want to have a maintenance coat of finish applied to the floor. This will help prevent walkthrough of the finish and avoid the necessity of a sand and finish.
If you have an oil finish such as Rubio Monocoat or Pallmann Magic Oil then your maintenance will be slightly different. These types of finishes generally require a refresher about every 6 months and to be re-oiled every two years.
As with all finishes be sure to check with the manufacture guidelines as to what they recommend on how to maintain their finish.
You can also check out my Youtube video for a demonstration of how a floor is to be cleaned.