The Do's and Don'ts of Maintaining Wood Floors
Keep your floor in just-installed condition for years.

1. If you are the purchaser of the floor, request maintenance guidelines from your salesperson.
2. Never wax a urethane floor. Find out what kind of finish your floor has. Consult with an expert if there is any doubt of the finish.
3. Never use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors. Self-polishing acrylic waxes cause wood to become slippery and appear dull quickly. The only remedy in this situation is to sand and refinish the floor.
4. Place mats and throw rugs at doorways, exteriors and interiors to help prevent tracking grit, dirt and sand. You will, however, want to leave rugs off of photo-sensitive floors (species that change dramatically with UV exposure) for the first 90 days or so, to allow them to darken evenly.
5. Never turn off the heating or air conditioning for an extended period of time during extreme weather. During wet weather, inspect doors and windows for leakage.
6. Keep expansion spaces free from debris to give your floor room for movement as weather and humidity fluctuates within normal range.
7. Sweep or vacuum wood floors regularly, preferably daily.
   
8. Use only approved wood floor cleaning products to clean the floor when necessary. A well-wrung terry cloth towel works great for a quick damp mop. Be sure to wring out all excess water. Never use a regular wet mop on a wood floor. Water will dull the finish, damage the wood and leave a discoloring residue. Remember, water and wood do not mix.
9. Wipe up all spills immediately with a dry or slightly dampened towel and then wipe it dry.
10. Investing in a buffer may be wise to buff wax floors.
11. If a wax floor dulls, it may be over-waxed. Try buffing instead. Only wax under furniture and in low-traffic areas every other waxing to avoid unnecessary build-up in those areas.
12. Use floor protectors under the legs of your furniture to prevent scratching from movement. If floor protectors are not in place, slip a piece of heavy cloth or soft cardboard under the legs.
13. Remember: cleats, sports shoes and high heels can dent any floor surface.
14. For wood flooring in the kitchen, place an area rug in front of the kitchen sink to catch water.