How to Care for Your Hardwood Floors

Hardwood products, provide superior wear; easy, no-wax care; plus superior resistance to staining from all common household products such as coffee, shoe polish, lipstick, acetone, mustard, and more. A few simple maintenance steps, however, will help protect your investment and keep your Hardwood flooring looking like new.

Use a slightly damp cloth to blot spills and spots as soon as they happen. For tough spots, such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, tar, or cigarette marks, use our cleaning solution.  As a last resort, use rubbing alcohol with a clean white cloth, then wipe with a damp cloth. 

But be very careful as these products can remove the finish from your floor. Using a Q-tip will help to apply directly to the spot and not the floor finish.  Always avoid allowing liquids to stand on your floor.  Sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt or grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish. Occasionally wipe the floor with a damp mop or cloth.  Periodically clean the floor with one of our Hardwood Floor Cleaner Kits.

Don't use oil based, wax, polish, or strong ammoniated or abrasive cleaners.  Don't use steel wool or scouring powder.

Don't wash or wet-mop the floor with soap, water, oil based detergents, or any other liquid cleaning material. This could void the warranty and cause swelling, warping, delaminating, and joint-line separation.  Don't use any type of buffing machine.

For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.  For tough stains, use one of our Hardwood Floor Cleaner Kits.  Do not use any type of buffing machine.

Good quality entry and exit mats will help collect the dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that can otherwise be tracked onto your flooring. Do not use rubber- or foam-backed plastic mats as they may discolor the flooring. To prevent slippage, use an approved vinyl rug under-laments.

Use floor protectors and wide-load-bearing leg bases/rollers to minimize indentations and scratches from heavy objects. As a rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be.

Maintaining a normal indoor relative humidity level between 45 and 65% throughout the year will minimize the natural expansion and contraction of wood.  Heating Season (Dry): A humidifier is recommended to prevent excess shrinkage due to low humidity levels. Wood stove and electric heat tend to create very dry conditions.  During the Non Heating Season (Wet): An air conditioner, dehumidifier or periodically turning on your heating system can maintain appropriate humidity during the summer months. Avoid excessive exposure to water during periods of inclement weather.

While your Hardwood floor is hardwood, sharp or pointed objects can damage the wood or finish. No wood or finish is hard enough to withstand extreme pressure from a sharp object.

Don't walk on your flooring with stiletto-style heels, spiked golf shoes, or cleats. They may cause indentations in your flooring.

Keep your pet's nails trimmed to keep them from scratching your flooring.

Periodically rearranging your area rugs and furniture will allow the flooring to age evenly. UV sunlight will change the tone of different species of hardwood to varying degrees.

Use a dolly when moving heavy furniture or appliances. But first, put down a sheet of quarter-inch plywood or layers of cardboard to protect the floor. Never try to slide or roll heavy objects across the floor.

Minor damage to your hardwood floor can be repaired using CHF's Color Fill and Color Sealant. These special products are matched to the color of your floor and, when used properly, will make the damaged area virtually invisible. In addition, the repaired area will hold up to traffic and wear.

CHF Color Fill is used for repairing minor nicks, scratches, and gouges in hardwood or laminate flooring and for filling nail and screw holes in hardwood or laminate moldings.