Like all treasured items, your flooring will need adequate care and maintenance to keep it in good condition and ensure it lasts a long time.
The first thing to remember is that wood flooring is a natural material and will react in response to its environment. Changes to the appearance over the years is normal and to be expected. Your flooring still needs proper care throughout its lifetime.
Room conditions
- Keep the room temperature stable and maintain it between 15°C – 24°C
- Keep the humidity stable and maintain it between 35% – 55%
Handy tips
- Place effective door mats next to all doors leading to outside
- Avoid wearing outdoor shoes on the floor
- Maintain your pets’ nails to avoid them scratching the floor
- Apply felt pads to furniture legs and avoid dragging furniture over the floor
- Never pour water on the floor and when mopping only use a slightly damp and well wrung out mop
- Clear up liquid spills immediately
- Neglected floors will deteriorate as a result of not being looked after
Cleaning immediately after installation
- Remove all dust from floor (with vacuum on hardwood floor setting or brush) and clean floor with a wood floor soap diluted with water. Use a well wrung out mop
- Ideally, wipe down your floor every day for the first couple of weeks after installation as per above instructions
Day to day maintenance
- Clean wood floors only with an approved wood floor soap and dilute with water
- Day to day cleaning can be done with a vacuum set to hardwood floor setting or by sweeping the floor
- Oiled flooring can be mopped when especially dirty
- Floor should be dried after cleaning with a mop to remove excess water
- Avoid excessive scrubbing as this can strip the floor of its natural oils and leave it prone to damage
Removal of tough stains and refreshing tired flooring
- Remove tough stains by sanding the area using first Grade 80 and then Grade 220 sandpaper to remove oil and smooth surface. Now apply thin coat of oil and allow to dry
- For tired floors, apply a liquid wax cleaner to refresh, following the instructions on the tin.
Annual maintenance
- Treat your flooring with a coat of maintenance oil at least once per year for the first several years to help protect the floor
This advice is provided free of charge and clients should always carefully read and follow instructions provided on the floor care products. Common sense should be employed when taking care of flooring and wooden floors should not be cleaned with abrasives or steel wool.
If you require further advice, please contact us via our Contact Us page.