Below are some general guidelines for maintaining and cleaning your flooring. Please always consult your product warranty for exact maintenance and cleaning instructions.
DO:
  • Wipe up spills immediately.
  • Use Armstrong or Bona cleaning solution specifically for hardwood floors or laminate floors.
  • Vacuum, sweep or dust mop your hardwood floor once a week, or more, if needed. The vacuum head must be brush or felt, and a wand attachment is preferable.
  • Use interior and exterior doormats at entrances to collect dirt and moisture and prevent it from being tracked onto the floor. This will prevent scratching.
  • Area rugs are recommended in front of kitchen sinks, at all pivot points and within high-traffic areas. The rugs must be made of a breathable material to prevent moisture entrapment. Use an area rug pad underneath to protect the flooring.
  • Keep animal nails trimmed to prevent finish scratches.
  • To prevent surface damage avoid rolling heavy appliances and furniture on the floor. Use plywood hardboard or appliance lifts, if necessary.
  • Use felt furniture leg protector pads under all furniture legs.
  • Replace hard, narrow furniture rollers with wide rubber rollers.
  • Keep the relative humidity in your home between 35% and 55%. Use a humidifier throughout the winter months to keep wood movement and shrinkage to a minimum.
  • Protect your floor from direct sunlight.

DON’T:

  • Do not use any of the following products (or products similar in nature) on your floor: ammonia based cleaners,  wax based products, detergents, bleach, polishes and oil soaps, abrasive cleaning soaps or acidic materials such as vinegar. Do not use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products on hardwood floors. Self-polishing acrylic waxes cause wood to become slippery and appear dull quickly.
  • Do not wax a wood floor.
  • Do not wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood and leave a discoloring residue.
  • Walk across your floor in poorly maintained shoes with heel taps, spike heels or with any sharp object protruding from your shoe. A 125-pound woman walking in high heels has an impact of 2,000 pounds per square inch. An exposed heel nail can exert up to 8,000 pounds per square inch. This kind of impact can dent any floor surface.
  • Allow furniture to rest on the floor on small metal tips or hard domes.
  • Use rubber, foam back or plastic mats as they may trap moisture and possibly discolor your floor.
  • Do not use vacuums with beater bars or hard heads.
  • Use steam mops or cleaners other than those recommended by the manufacturer.
  • When moving heavy furniture, do not slide it on wood flooring. It is best to pick up the furniture completely to protect the wood flooring.