Hardwood Cleaning Tips: Do and Don't
Prefinished Solid and Engineered Wood Flooring is designed to bring beautiful wood looks to your environment to fit your flooring needs and style, while also providing a solution with easy maintenance.
Created for residential and light commercial applications, this flooring is tough but still requires care and attention to keep it looking beautiful for years to come.
To start a great idea is to add a Bellawood Floor Care Kit to your cleaning supplies.
For day to day cleaning we recommend the floor to be swept and/or vacuumed. The vacuum head must be a felt brush type. Do not use vacuum with beater bars / very hard bristles. This will eliminate fine particles of dirt and grit that act like sandpaper which will scratch and / or dull the surface of your flooring.
Reduce the visibility of minor scratches using Bellawood Scratch Away.
Minimize abrasive material and dirt by placing mats on both sides of exterior doors and by using area rugs in high-traffic areas. We recommend the use of NON-RUBBER backed mats that are labeled “colorfast” by the manufacturer. Non-staining, vinyl-backed mats or woven rugs should be used at all door entries from outside to avoid discoloration from asphalt driveways, catch dirt, grit, sand, and other debris to help sustain the flooring. We also recommend using protective mats around sinks and tubs to catch excess water and debris.
Use Bellawood Floor Cleaner to deep clean your whole floor and clean spots and soiled areas.
DO NOT use cleaning agents containing wax, oil or polish. Leftover residue will form a dull film.
DO NOT use steel wool or scouring pad, as they will scratch the floor.
DO NOT use steam or wet mops.
This flooring can be dented, gouged and scratched, this can by caused by but is not limited to: dropped objects, damaged shoe heals / soles, abrasive particles, etc.
As your floor ages, color change or “patina” can occur.
Whether finished or unfinished, all wood changes color over time due to oxidation and exposure to UV light. Some species darken in color over time, while others tend to lighten. This is part of a natural development of your floors character and beauty. There is no known set value for "color fastness" of a species, so contractors and or customers should be aware of this normal condition. Certain species, including American cherry, Koa, Brazilian cherry, and many imported species, have this tendency to change in color. Some color change is to be expected for all species and in some cases the change can be quite dramatic as the character of the floor develops. This “Patina” process although normal, can be minimized by limiting exposure to direct sunlight or accelerated by exposure. Periodically moving furniture and rugs will help to equalize overall exposure to UV light. If possible avoid completely covering floors with rugs for the first six months.
You should always promptly remove spills using a soft cloth reducing slip hazards.
ALSO...We love our pets but occasionally accidents happen.
· Cleaning the affected area should begin immediately upon discovery
· Use absorbent paper tissue to collect as much of the deposited material as possible and properly dispose of it. Remove any existing residue with a suitable disinfecting cleaner.
· Repeat until all residue is removed. Buff dry. Clean, using Bellawood Floor Cleaner.
· The more time that elapses before removal, the more difficult a stain will be to remove.
· Keep pets’ nails trimmed as they can damage the flooring.
For more information for your product click here and enter you product’s code found on one end of the box e.g. 10043266
Additional Tips
Scratches, dents and nicks
If you do have scratches, quite often minor ones can be concealed using liquid scratch covers, sprays or lotions. Dents and nicks can be filled using wood floor repair kits (Touch-up markers, epoxy fill sticks or wax color pencils) usually available at your local home store. If your floor is severely damaged you can consult a professional about refinishing, or perhaps just an individual board replacement may be all that’s needed.
General Cleaning
Never pour water directly onto your floor or wet mop the floor like you would ceramic tiles. Even small amounts of water can cause hard water spots, clouding or deterioration to the finish or edge cup the wood. Only use products specifically designed or safe for urethane finished floors.
Tips for wood with different textures / finish
Textured / Distressed
It is recommended to clean a floor in the same general direction as the texture, not across it. Pay special attention to deeper distressed area and remove any excess cleaning agent. A sticky, hazy or greasy looking surface can occur if the floor was cleaned the wrong way such as; using too much cleaner or the wrong cleaners like detergents or soaps.
Polished/ High Gloss
Dried watermarks are often more visible on polished textures. Therefore, for best results, immediately wipe the floor dry after damp cleaning.
Beveled-edges
Clean along or with the beveled-edges, not across them. Floors with beveled edges can act as a pocket where moisture can collect. When cleaning make sure no water or cleaner has collected or puddled in the bevel.
Do's and Don'ts of Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Maintenance in brief:
DOs
Do - use a dust mop/ broom/ or vacuum daily for cleaning hardwood floors
Do - use a dry cloth for spills or damp cloth for sticky spills
Do - periodically use Bellawood Floor Care kit
Do - use non-slip rugs or mats at sinks and entrance ways (rug pads should be non-solvent based, waffle-type rubber)
Do - use ice on chewing gum to harden and remove with plastic scraper
Do - use felt protection on furniture legs
DON'Ts
Don't - use oil base, wax, polish, or strong abrasive cleaners
Don't - use steel wool or scouring powder
Don't - wash or wet mop with soap, water, oil-soap, or any liquid that can harm the floor
Don't - use steam cleaners
Don’t – leave spills, cleanup immediately
For additional comments or questions please contact our Customer Care through online chat, or call or visit a nearby showroom.
