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Your Hardwood Floors

When I was looking for a contractor to replace my carpet with hardwood flooring, one of them told me about a Great Island owner who had complained that her hardwood flooring had become 'squishy'. When he removed a plank, he discovered that she had been wet mopping her hardwood floors.

Theat your hardwood floors like furniture.

Maintain proper humidity (45%-55%) within your home year-round. This will minimize shrinkage and movement. Problems with humidity levels can be minimized by proper heating, ventilation, humidifying, or dehumidifying.
Regularly vacuum, sweep, or dust mop your floor to avoid buildup of excess dirt or abrasive dust. Broom heads should have soft bristles. Vacuum heads must be brush or felt, do not use vacuums with beater bars or hard heads.
Never wet mop your hardwood floor as water can permanently damage the floor. Never leave water or other liquids to dry on your hardwood floor. Always wipe spills up immediately.
Never use the following products on your hardwood floor:
- ammonia-based products,
- waxbased products,
- polishes,
- household detergent,
- abrasive cleaning soap,
- oil soap,
- acrylic finishes.
Many of these products can pit or etch the finish of your flooring or prevent the proper use of recommended maintenance material.
Only use cleaning and care products recommended exclusively for hardwood floors.
Use furniture leg protector pads under all furniture and make certain to keep them clean and well maintained.
Replace hard, narrow furniture rollers with wide, rubber rollers.
Always carry a heavy object while moving furniture or appliances. When this method is not practical, place a soft rug or blanket under the object.
Keep animal nails trimmed to prevent the floor from being scratched.
Area rugs are recommended in front of kitchen sinks, at all pivot points and within high-traffic areas. Do not use rugs with solid rubber or vinyl backings. The rugs must be made of breathable material to prevent moisture entrapment.
Move area rugs occasionally as they block sunlight and may give the appearance of discoloring under the rug.
Avoid wearing high heels, cleats, or athletic shoes on your hardwood floor as considerable damage could occur.
Always ensure all footwear is clean. Placing doormats at entrance points helps eliminate gravel, dirt, stones, and sand from being tracked in. We recommend establishing a “no shoes” policy for your hardwood floors.

[Source: http://www.moosewoodflooring.com]